Everytown Responds To President Donald Trump’s Reported Phone Call With Embattled NRA CEO Wayne Lapierre

NEW YORK — Everytown for Gun Safety released the following statement today in response to reports that President Donald Trump spoke with embattled NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre yesterday. According to media reports, LaPierre told Trump that action to expand background checks to all gun sales would be unpopular among President Trump’s voter base.

In fact, poll after poll shows overwhelming support for background checks, including among Republican voters. Recent polling has found that 94 percent of Americans support background checks on all gun sales, including 92 percent of Republicans and 90 percent of gun owners. And in March, polling found 80 percent of Republicans supported H.R. 8, the bipartisan background checks bill that passed the U.S. House in February. 

“More than 90 percent of Americans, including 90 percent of Republicans, support background checks on all gun sales — so President Trump should say no to the floundering NRA and yes to the American people,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Remember: He favored bold action after Parkland, until Wayne LaPierre started whispering in his ear. If the president is serious about leading now, then he’ll break with the NRA and tell Majority Leader McConnell to bring the Senate back and pass background checks and Red Flag legislation.”

In February, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to require background checks on all gun sales. To date, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has refused to hold a vote on that legislation.