Trump says he has directed bump stock ban proposal — live updates

President Trump, hosting the Public Safety Medal of Valor Awards Ceremony Wednesday afternoon at the White House, said he has directed Attorney General Jeff Sessions to draft regulations that would ban devices that would turn legal guns into machine guns, after studying the issue of bump stocks from the Las Vegas shooting. 

It’s the president’s first public appearance in Washington since his brief speech Thursday after the Parkland shooting. 

The president said that, as they gather, he is “grieving for the community of Parkland in the great state of Florida. We’re working very hard to make sense of these events.”

“We cannot imagine the depth of their anguish, but we can pledge the strength of our resolve. And we must to do more to protect our children. We have to do more to protect our children.” 

The president called for better coordination between federal and state law enforcement in order to take “swift action” when there are warning signs. The FBI failed to follow up on a tip about the suspect in the Florida shooting, who had been expelled from the high school. 

Mr. Trump will be recognizing those who have earned the highest possible valor award for public safety, in an honor that the president or vice president typically gives according to the Justice Department. Last year, Mr. Trump granted the award to the agents who risked their lives to protect members of Congress in the June congressional baseball practice shooting. 

The last time the president appeared publicly in Washington was Friday, to commemorate the victims of the shooting in Parkland, Fla., that took 17 lives. On Friday night, he visited the hospital where some of those injured in the shooting are recovering, and spoke with local members of law enforcement who intervened. Since then, the president has indicated he would support some form of background check measure. 

The president is expected to appear in the East Room at 3:30 p.m.