Gov. Bill Haslam backs halting bump stock sales, increasing age to buy AR-15 rifles

Speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C., last week, Gov. Bill Haslam made his strongest endorsement yet regarding making changes to access to guns after the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

At an event hosted by the Pew Charitable Trusts, Haslam said he supported ending the sale of bump stocks — devices that convert guns into automatic weapons — and increasing the age to buy weapons like the one used in the school shooting.

"It’s just crazy to me that you can’t buy a beer at 19 but you can buy an AR-15," Haslam said.

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The governor added that he agreed with a Democrat-led bill in the state legislature that would ban the sale of bump stocks.

The Knoxville Republican also said he supported "making the background check a lot better process."

Haslam's remarks in D.C. came one day after President Donald Trump said he would push for comprehensive background checks with an emphasis on mental health, raising the age to buy assault weapons from 18 to 21, and halting the sale of bump stocks.

Shortly after the president's comments, Republican lawmakers in Tennessee had a mix of reactions that ran the gamut of supporting such ideas to avoiding the question.

More: Tennessee GOP leaders have mixed thoughts on Trump's gun proposals

On Thursday, a spokeswoman for the governor told the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee that Haslam believes the age increase and ending bump stock sales were "suggestions we should consider."

While at the Pew event, Haslam touched upon the larger debate of guns that has been taking place throughout the country in light of the deadly shooting.

"We’re miles apart on the whole gun control debate," he said, adding that he didn't anticipate seeing "sweeping change."

"I think starting to do some things like that, that most people would say, ‘OK, that’s common sense, I can agree with that,’ is the right thing to do," Haslam said.

Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.