Trump backtracks on raising minimum age to purchase firearms
News & Trends •
the plan is backed by the powerful national rifle association nra and opposed by the countrys biggest teachers group the national education association1 us president donald trump has backtracked on raising the minimum age requirement from 18 to 21 for some gun purchases local media reported on monday1 the latest proposals put forward by the white house instead suggested the establishment of a commission to examine whether the measure would make sense1 there was however no proposed timeline for the commission1 the proposals are much more modest than those trump suggested he would support in february1 controversially they do include a plan to help individual states arm teachers on a voluntary basis1 trump indicated support for the measure in the wake of februarys massacre at a florida high school1 democrat sen. chuck schumer said in response to the new proposals that the white house has taken tiny baby steps designed not to upset the nra when the gun violence epidemic in the country demands that giant steps be taken1 the white house is also supporting improved background checks1 it is also calling on states to introduce measures which would allow law enforcement to confiscate weapons from people deemed to be a danger to themselves or others schumer added1 a 19-year-old has been charged over the killing of 17 people at a school in parkland florida in february1 the former pupil had legally purchased the weapon used in the attack in spite of having a record of mental health problems and making threats. dpanan1