Trump's 'Support' for Increased Background Checks for Gun Buyers in the U.S.

Following a campaign in the United States in response to the death of 14 students at a school in Florida, the White House announced on Monday, February 19, that President Donald Trump supports the proposal to increase background checks for gun buyers. In the shooting at a high school in southern Florida on Wednesday, at least 17 people, including 14 students, were killed. This incident is currently considered the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. Following this event, Florida police officials reported the arrest of a 19-year-old shooter who was a former student of the same school and had previously been expelled for disciplinary reasons. The Florida incident is the latest example of deadly and daily violence resulting from shootings in the United States and, as expected, has reignited extensive discussions regarding gun ownership and carrying laws in the country. Students from Parkland High School, located 70 kilometers from Miami, transformed their mourning for their classmates into a campaign to pressure politicians and congressional representatives, declaring they would not cease their protests until a law for background checks for gun buyers is passed. On Monday, February 19, in this context, dozens of students staged a symbolic protest by lying on the ground outside the White House in Washington. The Parkland High School students also plan to hold a demonstration titled 'March for Our Lives' in Washington on March 24, about a month from now. In their multi-day campaign, these students have repeatedly referenced the financial support from the National Rifle Association (NRA) to Donald Trump, stating that during his election campaign, the organization contributed at least $30 million to him. The NRA is one of the most powerful gun lobbies in America and traditionally opposes any law that negatively impacts gun sales in the U.S. Wayne LaPierre, the head of this organization, called for increased gun sales and the use of armed guards in schools following the Sandy Hook school shooting during Barack Obama's presidency, which left 24 dead, including several children under ten. In the year and a bit since his presidency began, Donald Trump has repeatedly strongly supported gun owners' rights and the NRA. Trump also previously repealed a law from the Obama era intended to keep guns away from individuals with certain mental disabilities. Following recent events, the White House announced on Monday that the President had discussed a bill with a Republican senator from Texas that could help strengthen the FBI's database of gun buyers and prohibit some of them. In this context, Sarah Sanders, the White House spokesperson, also announced the President's 'support' for 'efforts to improve the background check system' for gun buyers. Meanwhile, according to the White House, Mr. Trump is scheduled to have a 'dialogue' session with students and teachers from Parkland High School this Wednesday. The deadliest shooting incident in U.S. history occurred in Las Vegas earlier this year: a person who was later found to be suffering from depression opened fire from a hotel on concertgoers, killing 58 and sending over 500 to hospitals.