Article snippet: On Monday, President Donald Trump voiced his support for “strong background checks,” saying, “Republicans and Democrats must come together and get strong background checks, perhaps marrying this legislation with desperately needed immigration reform. We must have something good, if not GREAT, come out of these two tragic events!” On Wednesday, Trump followed up by pushing background checks again. The Associated Press quoted him saying, “There’s a great appetite, and I mean a very strong appetite, for background checks. And I think we can bring up background checks like we’ve never had before.” At the same time, Democrats were pressuring Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to allow a vote on the Democrat-controlled House’s universal background check bill. The U.S. has had background checks on retail sales sine 1998. This means purchases at gun stores, large retailers, pawn shops, etc., are conducted only after the would-be purchaser passes an FBI background check via the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Universal background checks expand those point-of-sale checks to cover private sales too. And “assault weapons” ban and numerous other controls are also being considered in the current gun control push. On August 8, 2019, McConnell told the Louisville, Kentucky, Terry Meiners Show that an “assault weapons” ban and other gun controls will be “front and center” when the Senate reconvenes in September. The problem with an “assault we... Link to the full article to read more