Currents News Staff
On August 7, President Trump visited the two communities still mourning after the past weekend’s mass shootings.
He went first to Dayton, Ohio, where he met with local officials before making a stop at Miami Valley Hospital. While there, he met medical personnel and some of those affected by the shooting.
He later flew from Dayton to El Paso, Texas. In both cities, supporters and protesters of the president’s visits raised their voices.
Dayton’s City Commissioner, Darryl Fairchild, penned a letter to the president asking for action.
“There are things he can do. He doesn’t have to wait for Congress. He has some steps he can take with Executive Action. He could start to put funding toward research and development of safer guns” the letter read.
And in El Paso, Mayor Dee Margo acknowledged the divide.
“I realize there’s a lot of emotional pain and concern over his visit, but I’m the mayor of all of El Paso and I feel like it’s my duty, obligation, my fiduciary duty to meet with the President of the United States,” he said.
Trump said that he was open to talking about some aspects of gun control legislation.
“Im looking to do background checks. I think background checks are important. I don’t want to put guns into the hands of mentally unstable people or people with rage or hate, sick people,” he said.
It’s unclear if Congress will be able to reach a consensus. The House has passed two gun control bills, but the Senate has not voted on either one.