Trumpâs public gun control statements alarm conservative Republicans
President Donald Trump  caused consternation among some of  his  staunchest conservative supporters during a rambling White House meeting with lawmakers in which  he  expressed support for potentially unconstitutional gun control measures staunchly opposed by the NRA.
After repeating  his  earlier support for allowing teachers to carry guns  addressing mental health issues and ensuring that law enforcement authorities respond quickly when warned about potential shooters   Trump  pivoted to endorsing strengthened background checks â even claiming that NRA executives had personally told  him  that "it's time."  He  eventually called for the passage of the Manchin-Toomey bill that was supported by President Barack Obama after the Newtown  Connecticut school shooting (although  Trump  seemed to think Obama had not supported it).
In one of  his  more controversial moments  the president also threw out the possibility of taking guns away from people without due process â a position that most conservatives would say violates the Constitution.
"I like taking the guns early  like in this crazy man's case that just took place in Florida "  Trump  told lawmakers. " He  had a lot of firearms. They saw everything. To go to court would have taken a long time. So you could do exactly what you're saying  but take the guns first  go through due process second."
 [TGT] caused consternation among some of   [TGT]   staunchest conservative supporters during a rambling White House meeting with lawmakers in which   [TGT]   expressed support for potentially unconstitutional gun control measures staunchly opposed by the NRA.
After repeating   [TGT]   earlier support for allowing teachers to carry guns  addressing mental health issues and ensuring that law enforcement authorities respond quickly when warned about potential shooters    [TGT]   pivoted to endorsing strengthened background checks â even claiming that NRA executives had personally told   [TGT]   that "it's time."   [TGT]   eventually called for the passage of the Manchin-Toomey bill that was supported by President Barack Obama after the Newtown  Connecticut school shooting (although   [TGT]   seemed to think Obama had not supported  [TGT] ).
In one of  his  more controversial moments  the president also threw out the possibility of taking guns away from people without due process â a position that most conservatives would say violates the Constitution.
"I like taking the guns early  like in this crazy man's case that just took place in Florida  [TGT] told lawmakers. "  [TGT]   had a lot of firearms. They saw everything. To go to court would have taken a long time. So you could do exactly what you're saying  but take the guns first  go through due process second."