News flash -- before it goes away

The New York Times released the following last evening.   I'm rushing to reprint it here before it changes -- as some of President Trump's statements are wont to do.  The Times article is by Michael D. Shear.

*     *     *     *     *

"Trump Stuns Lawmakers With Calls For Gun Control"

"WASHINGTON — President Trump stunned Republicans on live television Wednesday by embracing gun control and urging a group of lawmakers at the White House to resurrect gun safety legislation that has been opposed for years by the powerful National Rifle Association and the vast majority of his party.

"In a remarkable meeting in the Roosevelt Room, the president veered wildly from the N.R.A. playbook in front of giddy Democrats and stone-faced Republicans. He called for comprehensive gun control legislation that would expand background checks to weapons purchased at gun shows and on the internet, keep guns from the mentally ill, secure schools and restrict gun sales from some young adults. He even suggested a conversation on an assault weapons ban.

"At one point, Mr. Trump suggested that law enforcement authorities should have the power to seize guns from mentally ill or other dangerous people without first going to court. 'I like taking the guns early,' he said, adding, 'take the guns first, go through due process second.'

"The president’s declarations prompted a frantic series of calls from N.R.A. lobbyists to their allies on Capitol Hill and a statement from the group calling the ideas Mr. Trump expressed “bad policy.” Republican lawmakers issued statements or told reporters they remain opposed to gun control measures.

"'We’re not ditching any Constitutional protections simply because the last person the President talked to today doesn’t like them,' snapped Senator Ben Sasse, Republican of Nebraska.

"Democrats, too, said they were skeptical that Mr. Trump will follow through.

"'“The White House can now launch a lobbying campaign to get universal background checks passed, as the president promised in this meeting, or they can sit and do nothing,' said Senator Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut."

*     *     *     *     *

As Chris Hayes pointed out, disbelieving that Trump will follow through:   on the DACA question, he sat in the same room with a bipartisan group of lawmakers and declared that he would sign whatever immigration bill they came up with.    Then, of course, he later added the stipulation that it had to also include money for his border wall and a reduction in the total number of immigrants we admit.

Let's see how this plays out.   We've been wrong about Trump so many times, it's risky to skoff at this.   Wouldn't it be great if he can actually get this done.  I'll be the first to give him credit where it's due.   But, no, I'm not holding my breath.

Ralph