Just weeks after arguing that domestic abusers—namely his former staff secretary Rob Porter—were being denied due process, President Donald Trump proposed taking away people’s guns without due process.
Toronto Star reporter Daniel Dale reported on Wednesday that Trump suggested taking “the guns first, go through due process second” when it comes to “crazy” people possessing weapons.
Trump: "Take the firearms first and then go to court." "I like taking the guns early, like in the crazy man's case…take the guns first, go through due process second."
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 28, 2018
If Obama said this, Fox News might actually implode. There would be an actual fire at Fox News.
JUST NOW: "I like taking the guns early," President Trump says. "Take the guns first, go through due process second."
— Chris “Law Dork” Geidner (@chrisgeidner) February 28, 2018
Trump’s comments came during a White House meeting with congressional leadership on gun control. Naturally, conservatives were livid that their president adopted such a strong position against gun rights.
So Trump just literally proposed gun-grabbing without due process. Yeah, this is going awesome.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) February 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/pacelattin/status/968976430733328384
He’s actually blowing this entire thing. No due process? https://t.co/mlT6VMlOL2
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) February 28, 2018
who’s excited to ask Republican senators if they agree with the Republican president that law enforcement should confiscate guns without regard for due process???
— Haley Byrd Wilt (@byrdinator) February 28, 2018
this gal
But it wasn’t just “due process” (which would be unconstitutional, so conservatives have nothing to worry about, other than their president abandoning them). He also ceded ground on concealed carry reciprocity.
Trump just walked into a buzzsaw by dismissing concealed carry national reciprocity. Biggest issue for gun owners right now
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) February 28, 2018
The hyper-conservative website Breitbart was astounded the president would propose such a thing.
Meanwhile, some wondered what the reaction would be if some other president had proposed this in the wake of a mass shooting.
Just for one hot second…imagine the colossal, shitshow meltdown on the right if Obama said, "Take the guns first, go through due process second."
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) February 28, 2018
The right would melt the hell down. Calls for immediate impeachment. Second amendment remedies. Loco, hair-pulling frenzy.
If Obama had claimed the right to confiscate guns without due process, the Articles of Impeachment would be written by nightfall.
— Deniz S. (@MrFilmkritik) February 28, 2018
Yea, definitely.
But people have a more important question: Does Trump know what due process is? He defended it in situations where it doesn’t matter—such as a decision by a person’s employer—and wants to circumvent it where a person has an enshrined legal right.
https://twitter.com/elongreen/status/968954929560813568
Maybe not.