Trump hosts listening session after Parkland shooting

President Trump is hosting a listening session at the White House Wednesday with students affected by last week’s Florida school shooting, parents of children affected by school shootings, teachers, and advocates from a gun control group Sandy Hook Promise. 

The White House is expecting about three dozen students and parents to attend, along with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Vice President Mike Pence. The meeting comes as students from nearby schools in Washington, D.C., and Maryland descend on the White House to demand stricter gun control measures in the wake of the high school shooting that left 17 people dead last week. Teens at multiple Florida schools also staged a walk-out Wednesday as a show of support for the students who are meeting with state lawmakers.

Mr. Trump has announced his support for some limited gun measures since then. The president tweeted his support for stronger background checks on Tuesday night, and earlier that day, he announced he has directed Attorney General Jeff Sessions to craft regulations banning devices — like bump stocks — that turn legal semi-automatic weapons into illegal automatic weapons. A Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday found the highest support for stricter gun control measures since the group began its national poll. 

On Tuesday, Mr. Trump said school safety will be a top priority for his administration.

“We cannot imagine the depth of their anguish, but we can pledge the strength of our resolve,” the president said of the victims and their families in an East Room event. “And we must to do more to protect our children. We have to do more to protect our children.” 

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