Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
President Thoroughly Embraces 'Comprehensive' Gun Control Strategy Leaving Dems Giddy, GOP Scrambling
The New York Times: Trump Stuns Lawmakers With Seeming Embrace Of Gun Control
President Trump stunned Republicans on live television Wednesday by embracing gun control and urging a group of lawmakers at the White House to resurrect gun safety legislation that has been opposed for years by the powerful National Rifle Association and the vast majority of his party. In a remarkable meeting, the president veered wildly from the N.R.A. playbook in front of giddy Democrats and stone-faced Republicans. He called for comprehensive gun control legislation that would expand background checks to weapons purchased at gun shows and on the internet, keep guns from mentally ill people, secure schools and restrict gun sales for some young adults. He even suggested a conversation on an assault weapons ban. (Shear, 2/28)
The Associated Press: Trump Says Some Lawmakers Too Fearful Of NRA To Take Action
"We can't wait and play games and nothing gets done," Trump said as he opened the session with 17 House and Senate lawmakers. "We want to stop the problems." Trump also raised eyebrows by suggesting that law enforcement officials should be able to confiscate people's firearms without a court order to prevent potential tragedies. (Mascaro, Daly and Lucey, 3/1)
The Washington Post: Trump Surprises Lawmakers In Backing Some Tougher Gun Controls
Most striking were Trump’s remarks decrying what he called excessive “checks and balances” that limit what can be done to prevent mentally unfit people from buying or keeping guns. “Take the firearms first, and then go to court,” Trump said, cutting off Vice President Pence as Pence articulated a version of the due-process arguments that the NRA and other gun-rights advocates have used to derail past gun-control measures. “You could do exactly what you’re saying, but take the guns first, go through due process second.” (Gearan, DeBonis and Kim, 2/28)
The Wall Street Journal: Trump Urges Congress To Take Action On Guns
“If this meeting ends up with just sort of vague notions of future compromise, then nothing will happen,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.). “Mr. President, it’s going to have to be you that brings the Republicans to the table on this.” “I like that responsibility,” Mr. Trump replied. (Radnofsky, Peterson and Andrews, 2/28)
The CT Mirror: Trump Asks Murphy To Help Draft 'Comprehensive' Gun Bill
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he wanted Sen. Chris Murphy to join three Senate colleagues – John Cornyn, R-Texas; Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.; and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., in drafting a “comprehensive” gun bill that is “very powerful” on expansion of the FBI background check system for gun buyers. “We are determined to turn grief into action,” Trump said at a White House gathering with lawmakers to discuss ways to combat gun violence. (Radelat, 2/28)
Politico: Why Hardening Schools Hasn't Stopped School Shootings
President Donald Trump has called for “hardened schools” to end the cycle of school massacres. But he was unimpressed last week when told about a Midwestern campus dubbed "the safest school in America." An Indiana state official had suggested he consider Southwestern High in Shelbyville a national prototype because of its state-of-the-art cameras that send real-time footage to a sheriff’s office, smoke cannons in hallways, bulletproof doors and teachers who wear panic buttons. (Emma, 3/1)
Meanwhile, in the states —
The Associated Press: Lawmakers Around US Take Action On Gun-Control Bills
State lawmakers across the U.S. are considering new laws in the wake of the Florida high school shooting, and legislatures from Maine to Alaska took action on Wednesday. A rundown of what's happening in statehouses. (2/28)
Sacramento Bee: California Bill Raises Age Limit To Buy Guns
A state senator is pushing a bill to raise the minimum age to legally purchase rifles and shotguns in California to 21. Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge, amended Senate Bill 1100 on Wednesday to prohibit someone from purchasing more than one gun in 30 days and to increase the age limit to buy all firearms to 21. (Luna, 2/28)
The New York Times: Even After High School Massacre, Albany Demurs On Gun Control
It was, especially in a restrictive state like New York, a seemingly modest set of gun-control proposals. Prospective gun buyers would undergo longer background checks; an institute would be formed to study gun violence; courts would be allowed to seize or prohibit the sale of guns to potentially violent individuals; and a ban would be enacted on the possession of bump stocks, which can make a semiautomatic rifle shoot nearly as fast as a fully automatic version. (McKinley, 2/28)
