GUNSLINGING: Republican race to the bottom shows Trump was in favor of gun control!
A PAC affiliated with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has attacked Trump on the few gun positions he has taken because, gasp, they show he has been in favor of some form of gun control.
The new pro-DeSantis ad (inserted below) from Never Back Down Inc, warns gun lovers and Second Amendment fanatics that Trump is not their guy.
The PAC attacks Trump with clips of his own comments supporting gun control, including red flag laws (“Take the firearms first, and then go to court… I like taking the guns early”), raising the age for purchase from 18 to 21, and supporting background checks.
Though the ad uses actual video clips of Trump and audio of his own words, the former president has declared it false, arguing that he did not agree with Representative Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer on these issues.
In defending himself, Trump pointed to his speech at the NRA convention over the past weekend.
He argued had the biggest crowd and the most enthusiastic praise from the audience , seeming to suggest this negated his own words on video.
Further digging in, Trump noted that DeSantis (or, in Trump’s words, “DeSanctus”) was not at the event.
Trump speculated that DeSantis avoided physically attending the convention because he thought he’d be booed if he showed up.
DeSantis did pre-record a message to air at the event, and the NRA crowd reacted with enthusiastic applause.
Trump posted:
“Nobody has been stronger for the 2nd Amendment than President Donald J. Trump, and yet, Ron DeSanctus took an advertisement this weekend saying, of all things, I was in agreement with Crazy Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, “NOT.” Wow, that’s like Democrat Disinformation! This weekend at the NRA Convention in Indianapolis, I had, by far, the biggest crowd and got, not even close, the most enthusiastic ovations. I was there, in person. DeSanctus didn’t even show up – Was concerned he would be booed!”
As President, Trump did not make significant moves on gun control. He did, however, muse on measures.
As an example, a White House transcript records a meeting on school and community safety, in which then-President Trump, argued for ‘hardening’ special areas by eliminating gun-free zones.
Trump pointed a proverbial finger at mental health, supporting red flag laws to remove weapons from the hands of those who might prove dangerous. He was also open to background checks, speaking in support of Senator Joe Manchin’s proposal to close the so-called gun show loophole.
Meanwhile, DeSantis continuously works hard to earn his cred with armed extremists.
Even before his re-election last year, stats showed that gun violence had enjoyed a double-digit increase in Florida under his leadership.
He ceaselessly works to make it easier for dangerous people to access deadly weapons.
Ultimately, both candidates (sorry, the candidate and his undeclared competition) fight hard to put gun rights over human lives.
Trump and DeSantis are both mega (or MAGA) NRA simps, no doubt.
Despite their shared base, the ad is true: Trump has, in fact, espoused, however temporarily, views in favor of gun control.
Wow. New pro-Desantis Super PAC ad against Trump called, ‘Trump the Gun Grabber.’ Played at the NRA Convention. Probably the best ad against Trump for the Republican primary I’ve seen. pic.twitter.com/Z7Vqw7WVpb
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 16, 2023
