The deadly attack on a Parkland, Fla., high school last week mobilized not only students to demand action on gun control, but also may have spurred action in Washington. On Tuesday, President Trump asked the Department of Justice for regulations that would ban so-called “bump stocks.” It’s a move that Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany says shows the issue doesn’t have to be a partisan one. “Our party can make change. Just because you’re pro-Second Amendment, just because you are with the NRA or seeing money from the NRA, that doesn’t mean you don’t want to do everything possible to avert tragedies like this,” she told Cheddar. “That’s why you’re seeing Republican lawmakers talk about background check systems and Republican lawmakers also talking about bump stocks. These are things that are compatible with the Second Amendment.” Nineteen-year-old Nikolas Cruz opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine’s Day, an attack that left 17 dead and more than a dozen injured. In the wake of the attack, several students have emerged as advocates for gun control, organizing marches to local and federal government offices and addressing what they saw as President Trump’s inadequate response to the events. Over the weekend, Trump expressed support for a bipartisan bill introduced by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) to fix the background check system. That legislation was prompted by a shooting at a Sutherland Springs, Tex., church in November. The “bump stock” bill meanwhile, also bipartisan, came after the Las Vegas attack in October, in which a shooter used the devices to make a semi-automatic rifle act like a machine gun. McEnany, who’s from the state of Florida, says that gun control regulations have to be a joint effort between states and the federal government. “This has to be a multi-pronged approach,” she said. “We also need to look at mental health. We also need to look at the missed warning signs at the FBI, the fact that they were called and proper protocol wasn’t followed.” For full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/rnc-spokeswoman-kayleigh-mcenany-republicans-are-pro-second-amendment-anti-tragedy).

Share:
More In Politics
Return To School Clouded By Mask Mandate Bans In GOP-Led States
Even amid the spread of the Delta variant, Republican governors in states like Florida and Texas have taken actions like banning mask mandates for school districts that will soon bring students back for the year. This argument happens amid a stark increase in pediatric COVID cases. Bianca Quilantan, education reporter at POLITICO, joins Cheddar Politics to discuss.
Next Week on the Street: August 16 to August 20
In stories sure to move markets next week, Robinhood and several retail giants report earnings, Jerome Powell takes the podium, New York City's mask mandate goes into effect, and Tesla hosts its 'AI Day.'
Trump-DeSantis Tensions Coming To Surface
Former President Trump remains the standard-bearer of the Republican Party in his first six months removed from office. But despite his position atop the party, others are moving to shore up their own bona fides. Chief among them is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis who has signed a bevy of bills popular among conservatives this year. He's viewed as a potential successor to trump, and that's creating tension with the still-present Trump. Matt Dixon, POLITICO Florida bureau chief, joins Cheddar Politics to discuss.
Load More