Donald Trump proposes tighter gun control tied to immigration reform

The mass shootings in Texas and Ohio shocked the United States to the core. Now US President Donald Trump has responded.

US President Donald Trump on Monday urged Republicans and Democrats to agree on tighter gun control, suggesting that new legislation could be linked to his pet project of immigration reform.

“Republicans and Democrats must come together and get strong background checks, perhaps marrying this legislation with desperately needed immigration reform,” Mr Trump tweeted as he prepared to address the nation on two weekend shootings that left 29 dead and dozens wounded in Texas and Ohio.

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump return to the White House in Washington, DC. Picture: Alastair Pike / AFP

“We must have something good, if not GREAT, come out of these two tragic events!” Mr Trump wrote.

....this legislation with desperately needed immigration reform. We must have something good, if not GREAT, come out of these two tragic events!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 5, 2019

Mr Trump then went on to say the media had an important role to play in changing America’s future.

The Media has a big responsibility to life and safety in our Country. Fake News has contributed greatly to the anger and rage that has built up over many years. News coverage has got to start being fair, balanced and unbiased, or these terrible problems will only get worse!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 5, 2019

Mr Trump said on Sunday that “hate has no place in our country,” but he also blamed mental illness for the violence.

“These are really people that are very, very seriously mentally ill,” he said, although police have not confirmed such a claim.

“We have to get it stopped. This has been going on for years... and years in our country,” he said.

Gun culture is deeply rooted in America, and efforts to strengthen firearms regulations remain divisive even though mass shootings are commonplace.

The weekend massacres in El Paso and Dayton were the 250th and 251st mass shootings so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, an NGO.

People react during a prayer and candle vigil organised by the city, after a shooting left 20 people dead at the Cielo Vista Mall WalMart in El Paso, Texas. Picture: Mark Ralston/ AFP

It defines such an event as a shooting in which at least four people are killed or wounded.

Following the latest shootings, Mr Trump said Sunday that “hate has no place in our country,” but he also blamed mental illness for the violence.

People comfort each other as they take part of a candle lit vigil in honour of those who lost their lives or were wounded in a shooting in Dayton, Ohio. Picture: Megan Jelinger / AFP

“These are really people that are very, very seriously mentally ill,” he said, although police have not confirmed such a claim.

“We have to get it stopped. This has been going on for years... and years in our country,” he said.

The Democrat-led House has passed a gun control bill that includes fixes to the nation’s firearm background check system, but it has languished in the GOP-controlled Senate.

Mr Trump suggested Monday that a background check bill could be paired with his long-sought effort to toughen the nation’s immigration system. But he didn’t say how.

- with AP