Count Donald Trump Jr. as someone who’s skeptical of passing gun control after recent shootings in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas.
Rebecca Ballhaus, Andrew Restuccia, and Natalie Andrews wrote at The Wall Street Journal about Trump Jr.’s concerns with certain gun control proposals such as red flag gun confiscation orders and expanded background checks.
They wrote:
Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son who often speaks with his father about his views on gun laws, has raised concerns about both red-flag legislation and about tightening background checks, according to people familiar with the matter.
BLP reported on how Trump Jr. has been a strong advocate for accessory deregulation, especially in the case of firearms suppressors. His influence was rather strong from 2017 to 2018, when Republicans had control of all branches of government and were poised to pass one of the most comprehensive firearms accessory deregulation reforms in American history.
However, this attempt was ultimately capsized after the Las Vegas shooting of 2017. Nonetheless, Trump Jr. has indirectly held a strong pro-gun presence throughout the Trump administration.
Even his father recognizes this. President Trump told supporters at a fundraiser last Friday in N.Y that “Don Jr. is my gun expert. He knows more about guns than anyone I know.”
Conservative commentators across the nation have also warned Trump to not entertain gun control. Renowned conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh declared that red flag laws are a “pipeline to gun control.”
Iowa radio host Steave Deace also chimed in saying, “When you’re president because of a grand total of less than 78,000 votes spread out over three states, you don’t have to alienate too much of your base on an issue they care about to lose.”
With the calls for gun control growing louder, Trump will need to stand strong and not cave to media pressure. He would be best served by listening to his son on this issue.