Trump: People on terror watchlist should be barred from gun purchases

Donald Trump continues to diverge from the rest of the Republican Party on issues of gun control, reaffirming in an interview to air Sunday that those on the terrorist watchlist shouldn’t be able to buy guns. 

{mosads}”We have to make sure that people that are terrorists or have even an inclination toward terrorism cannot buy weapons, guns,” the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said in an interview to air Sunday on “This Week.” 

When asked if his position is that those on the terrorist watchlist shouldn’t be able to purchase a gun, Trump responded, “I’d like to see that, and I’d like to say it. And it’s simpler. It’s just simpler.” 

Discussions on gun control have re-emerged this week after a shooter left 49 dead and 53 more injured at a gay nightclub in Orlando last Sunday. Democrats have pushed for assault weapon bans, more background checks and a purchase ban for those on terrorist watchlists. 

But Trump’s fellow Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), generally oppose barring gun sales to those on the terrorist watchlist, arguing it could hurt those erroneously put on it. That’s also the position the National Rifle Association takes.

“We want to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again. … But as we look at how to proceed, we also want to make sure that we’re not infringing upon people’s legitimate constitutional rights,” Ryan said Thursday.