Donald Trump backtracks over background checks for gun owners

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Following the Florida school mass shooting, Donald Trump is backing a measure of improved gun control

US President Donald Trump appears to have changed his position on gun control and said he supports efforts to make it harder for criminals to buy weapons.

Mr Trump has been criticised for his opposition to gun control measures following last week's mass shooting at a Florida school that left 17 students and teachers dead.

But White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders revealed Trump had spoken to John Cornyn, a Republican Senator, and his Democrat colleague Chris Murphy about the bi-partisan bill they have introduced aiming to force states and federal agencies to report more often on offences that would bar an individual from buying a gun.

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Shooting survivor questions Trump's NRA funding

"While discussions are ongoing and revisions are being considered, the President is supportive of efforts to improve the Federal background check system," Sanders said.

:: Pictured: 17 victims gunned down in school massacre

The bill would punish federal agencies that fail to provide the necessary records and reward states that comply with the rules.

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Cruz posed with guns on social media Pic:Instagram/cruz.nikolaus

Trump, who has been a strong supporter of gun rights and the National Rifle Association, was heavily criticised for his initial response to the tragedy at Margery Stoneman Douglas high School.

:: Why are white men more likely to carry out mass shootings?

In a tweet, he wrote: "My prayers and condolences to the families of the victims of the terrible Florida shooting. No child, teacher or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school."

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Nikolas Cruz's Instagram page contained images of weapons

Sarah, a teenage girl believed to be a student at the school, who had tweeted about the attack, called him a "piece of s***" and urged him to "do something instead of sending prayers".

The President later tweeted about Cruz being "mentally disturbed" and, after the FBI admitted it failed to act on tip-offs about the 19-year-old, suggested the agency was spending "too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign".

:: Trump visits Florida school shooting survivors


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