Here's why Donald Trump won't do anything to stop mass shootings

Trump's loyalty to his base — and the NRA — will likely prevent him from acting on gun control

Published October 3, 2017 10:50AM (EDT)

 (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

It's unlikely that President Donald Trump will take immediate action on gun control following the massacre in Las Vegas, out of fear that he would distance himself from his base and potentially anger the National Rifle Association, an organization the president has developed a close relationship with because of their staunch support throughout his candidacy.

Before he departed for Puerto Rico on Tuesday morning, Trump indicated that it's an issue he may approach "as time goes on."

The president then pivoted, saying that the Las Vegas shooting wasn't a wasn't a disaster, but rather a miracle. "Look, we have a tragedy. What happened is, in many ways, a miracle," Trump said of the country's most devastating mass shooting to date, according to The Washington Post.

"The police department, they’ve done such an incredible job," Trump said. "And we’ll be talking about gun laws as time goes on. But I do have to say how quickly the police department was able to get in, was really very much of a miracle. They’ve done an amazing job."

Those words may be the closest thing Trump does to providing any meaningful action on gun control.

Former White House chief strategist and longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon told Axios that gun control won't happen. "Impossible: will be the end of everything," he texted the outlet. Bannon added that his base would likely be more outraged on gun control measures than on his decision to seek a bipartisan deal on DACA. Bannon's viewpoint was echoed by Roger Stone.

Trump is also loyal to the NRA, which supported him even as other Republican-led interest groups were distancing themselves throughout his campaign. The president has a "personal connection" to the pro-gun organization and is also close with the group's top lobbyist, Chris Cox.

However, because Trump is inherently unpredictable, some allies are worried that he will take action, like he did with Democrats on the DACA deal.


By Charlie May

MORE FROM Charlie May


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Las Vegas Shooting Las Vegas Gun Laws President Donald Trump Roger Stone Steve Bannon White House