NEW: 'We're going to be doing background checks,' Pres. Trump says. The president had first appeared to express support for strengthening background checks in the wake of recent mass shootings, before then softening his language on the issue.
After President Donald Trump appeared to respond to a groundswell of public support for tougher gun sale background checks following recent mass shootings, his language -- and possibly his stance -- on new gun control measures seems to be softening after a discussion with NRA head Wayne LaPierre Tuesday.
But now, as time has elapsed, and with Congress still away on its August recess, Trump on Tuesday appeared to back off on any new push background checks, again calling mental health the actual problem. White House officials have been speaking with Congress about legislative options, sources have told ABC News, and the administration has had conversations with the president’s reelection team about how any potential action would impact Trump’s support among his base.
Congress passed legislation -- FIX NICS -- in the aftermath of the Sutherland Springs Church shooting in Texas in November 2017 that claimed 26 lives. The measure was aimed at penalizing government agencies for not reporting into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System . These are people that have to be in institutions for help," he said."I'm not talking about as a form of a prison I'm saying for help."
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