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Trump on Stopping People on Terror Watchlist From Buying Guns: 'I'd Like to See It'

June 19, 2016

Donald Trump again expressed support Sunday for banning those on the U.S. government's terrorist watchlist from buying guns in an interview for ABC's This Week.

Trump tweeted last week he would meet with the National Rifle Association about such a proposal, which is being backed by congressional Democrats. The NRA has endorsed Trump, but they are in conflict on this issue.

Gun control measures once again are at the forefront of the presidential campaign after a Muslim man who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State terror group killed 49 people last week at a gay Orlando night club.

"I want to just find out [the NRA's] thinking, because what I want, and I know what they want ... They want to make sure that terrorists don't get guns, and I know that something really good is going to come out of all of this," Trump said.

"But is it your position that if you're on that terror watch list, if you're on that no-fly list, you should not be able to buy a gun?" ABC's Jonathan Karl asked.

"I'd like to see that, and I'd like to say it, and it's simpler. It's just simpler," Trump said. "Now, what they say, and I understand that also, it's the Second Amendment. They're depriving them of those rights ... We have to make sure that people that are terrorists or have even an inclination toward terrorism cannot buy weapons, guns."

Gun-rights supporters disagree, citing the Second Amendment and due process rights. The lists are secret and unaccountable, and the terrorist watch list involves "suspected" terrorists, meaning they have not necessarily committed any crimes.

Karl asked Trump if he could get the NRA to "budge" on the issue. Citing the NRA's endorsement, Trump said he was pro-NRA and pro-Second Amendment.

"I'll talk to them," Trump said. "And by the way, I understand exactly what they're saying. A lot of people are on the list that really, maybe shouldn't be on the list, and their rights are being taken away, so I understand that."

NRA representative Chris Cox said later on the ABC broadcast, however, that the idea of any conflict between the NRA and Trump on the issue was a media-created diversion.