Gun victim Scalise leads opposition to stricter US laws

Opposing sides in the US gun debate staked out their positions Wednesday ahead of anticipated White House firearm safety proposals, with a top lawmaker who was nearly shot dead pushing back against reforms.
Congressional Democrats have demanded swift action on issues like expanding background checks to nearly all gun sales, and passing so-called red flag laws allowing authorities to confiscate weapons from people deemed a threat to themselves or others.
President Donald Trump has waffled. Following a mass shooting in El Paso, Texas in August that left 22 people dead, Trump expressed interest in expanding background checks, but has since retreated.
One reform opponent is the number-two House Republican, Steve Scalise, a fierce gun rights advocate despite being gravely wounded in a 2017 shooting at a congressional baseball practice.
“Every time there’s a mass shooting, I can tell you firsthand the first thing we all ought to do is pray,” he told reporters. …Read the Rest

Source:: NRA-ILA