The NRA has agreed to meet with Donald Trump about the proposal to prevent people on the terrorist watch list from purchasing firearms.
“We are happy to meet with Donald Trump,” said Chris Cox, the executive director of the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action.
In response to the terrorist attack in Orlando on Friday, Trump tweeted Wednesday morning: “I will be meeting with the NRA, who has endorsed me, about not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns.”
That proposal has been pushed by some Democrats in recent days, while some Republicans have expressed due-process concerns about revoking the constitutional rights of someone suspected, but not convicted, of a crime.
In the NRA’s statement, Cox suggested they are open to a version of a law that restricts suspected terrorists from purchasing a firearm if it includes “due process protections.”
“The NRA’s position on this issue has not changed,” Cox said. “The NRA believes that terrorists should not be allowed to purchase or possess firearms, period.”
“Anyone on a terror watchlist who tries to buy a gun should be thoroughly investigated by the FBI and the sale delayed while the investigation is ongoing,” Cox added. “If an investigation uncovers evidence of terrorist activity or involvement, the government should be allowed to immediately go to court, block the sale, and arrest the terrorist.”
In response to concerns of some conservatives about the proposal, Cox said “due process protections should be put in place that allow law-abiding Americans who are wrongly put on a watchlist to be removed.”
Cox said this “has been the position” of Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn and “a majority of the U.S. Senate.”
“Sadly,” Cox said, “President Obama and his allies would prefer to play politics with this issue.”
On Wednesday, Connecticut Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy started a talking filibuster on the floor of the Senate while calling on Congress to pass a law to prevent suspected terrorists from being able to purchase firearms.
