NRA spokeswoman stresses opposition to higher gun purchase ages

National Rifle Association (NRA) spokeswoman Dana Loesch stressed during an interview on Sunday that the NRA does not support raising the age to purchase long guns to 21, pushing back on comments by President Trump.

“So the position is you do not want to raise the age?” host George Stephanopoulos asked Loesch on ABC’s “This Week.”

{mosads}“That’s what the NRA came out and said. That’s correct,” Loesch said.

Trump said last week following the Florida high school massacre that the legal age to purchase all guns should be raised to 21. The White House later said that he meant semi-automatic weapons.

Loesch echoed Trump, however, in saying that arming teachers could deter school shootings.

“If parents and teachers voluntarily choose to be armed, I think that’s something schools will have to come up with and determine for themselves,” Loesch said.

She also doubled down on criticism of law enforcement for missing red flags ahead of the deadly shooting.

“I wish that as much attention were given to the [Broward County Sheriff’s Office] and their abdication of duty as trying to blame 5 million innocent, law-abiding gun owners all across the country,” Loesch said on Sunday.

Advocates led by the student survivors of the Florida shooting have called out the NRA and Republican politicians the organization supports. 

The gun rights group has largely defended its positions and said discussions should focus on other factors instead of gun control.

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