Sunday: Gun Control after Parkland
President Trump spent the week trying to strike a balance between gun rights and gun control advocates, both of whom he sought to reassure in the wake of last week's deadly Florida school shooting. But despite the president's reported confidence, Congressional leaders voiced little optimism for a policy wish list that has grown over days of listening sessions and speeches to include, among other ideas, arming teachers with military experience, banning bump stocks, and reopening mental institutions.
Also this week, blame continued to fall on law enforcement following the latest in a string of missed red flags. Another tipster claimed Friday that they too had reported accused gunman Nikolas Cruz to the FBI. And the school's armed security officer resigned Thursday after the Broward County Sheriff criticized him for avoiding engaging the gunman.
Overseas, an already complex and deadly conflict in Syria grew more challenging as hundreds were massacred in a Russian-backed bombardment of Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus. The Trump administration has struggled for answers to the merciless slaughter led by Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, with a State Department spokeswoman telling journalists Thursday "I don't know what some of you expect us to do."
And the latest in a flurry of charges from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation was unsealed Friday, this time accusing former campaign chair Paul Manafort of secret payments to lobby for Ukraine. The charges came on the heels of former Trump campaign adviser Rick Gates' guilty plea for conspiring against the U.S. and lying to authorities.
This Sunday on "Face the Nation" (@FaceTheNation), we'll bring you the latest on all that and more with moderator Margaret Brennan (@margbrennan).
We'll talk to Governor Asa Hutchinson (@AsaHutchinson) of Arkansas as well as two Florida Congressmen: Rep. Ted Deutch (@RepTedDeutch) and Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast).
For perspective on the debate, we'll turn also to Americans directly affected by gun violence:
- Austin Eubanks, a survivor of the Columbine school shooting
- Andy Parker, father of slain journalist Alison Parker, co-founder of the For Alison Foundation
- John Mina (@chiefjohnmina), Orlando Police Chief during the Pulse nightclub shooting, member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police
- Michele Gay, mother of Josephine who was killed in the Newtown school shooting, co-founder of Safe and Sound Schools (@safeschoolsorg)
- Nicole Hockley, mother of Dylan who killed in the Newtown school shooting, co-founder of Sandy Hook Promise (@sandyhook)
To discuss the conflict in Syria, we'll talk to Frederic Hof (@FredericHof), ambassador for the Syrian transition under President Obama.
And we'll bring together an expert political panel to help us break down the busy news week. This Sunday, we'll be joined by:
- Shawna Thomas (@Shawna), Washington bureau chief for Vice News
- Reihan Salam (@reihan), National Review Institute policy fellow
- David Nakamura (@DavidNakamura), White House reporter for the Washington post
- Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade), Congressional reporter for POLITICO
Make sure to tune in to this week's exciting broadcast! Click here to check your local listings for air times.
