Tanzil Philip, 16, left, makes a passionate speech to supporters in Florida. Credit:GERALD HERBERT "We cannot merely take actions that make us feel like we are making a difference," Trump said at a ceremony as he conferred the medal of valour on public safety officials. "We must actually make a difference." In Florida, the Republican-controlled state House rejected an effort to immediately consider a bill to ban large-capacity magazines and the type of assault rifles used in last week's attack, even as students from Stoneman Douglas High School watched from the gallery. The party-line vote was on an unusual procedural motion offered by a Democrat, and Republican leaders were critical of the effort to force a vote. They said they would consider other gun control bills before the session ends in March, but none of those measures is expected to go as far as banning assault rifles. At the White House, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the president's spokeswoman, said the president was determined to find ways to protect Americans, and especially children, from gunmen. Asked about a broader ban on assault weapons, Sanders said the White House has not "closed the door on any front".

Shooting instructor Frankie McRae aims an AR-15 rifle fitted with a "bump stock" at his 37 PSR Gun Club in North Carolina. Credit:Allen G. Breed Despite the day's developments, there was deep skepticism in Washington that anything would change because of the long history of inaction by state and federal politicians after similar mass shootings. Gun control activists said they were braced for another disappointing battle with lawmakers. The president, they noted, promised unwavering fealty last year to the National Rifle Association, drawing thunderous applause at its annual convention by declaring: "To the NRA, I can proudly say I will never, ever let you down." The group in turn enthusiastically endorsed Trump and spent $US30 million on his campaign. US President Donald Trump. Credit:CAROLYN KASTER Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat who sponsored the latest background check measure with Senator John Cornyn, a Republican, said he was unimpressed by Trump's openness to it. "Let's not pretend this is some huge concession on his part," he said. "If this is all the White House is willing to do to address gun violence, it's wholly insufficient."

The background check bill, which seeks to improve the existing database used to prevent gun purchases by criminals and the mentally ill, is a small nod in the direction of gun control that does nothing to close loopholes that allow millions of gun sales without a background check. Last year, NRA officials said they were fine with it. Clark Aposhian, chairman of the Utah Shooting Sports Council, attaches a little-known device called a "bump stock" to a semi-automatic rifle at the Gun Vault store and shooting range. Credit:RICK BOWMER It is also unclear whether Trump's statement of support for the measure, which included a desire for some "revisions" might be linked to other legislation that the NRA backs. In the House, a similar background check measure was combined with legislation that would effectively allow people to legally carry concealed weapons in all 50 states. That legislation is the top priority for the NRA, and gun control activists have promised to fight it aggressively. "That normalises the carrying of guns on all American streets," said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, a group that advocates gun control measures. He said joining the two measures would be a "craven" bait-and-switch and "disrespectful for all the families" of the Florida school that suffered through last week's shooting.

The president's bump stock announcement surprised the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which did not appear to have been informed of the pending remarks from Trump. The Justice Department announced a review of the devices in early December. Led by the ATF, the review sought to determine whether the bureau - which is responsible for policing firearms - was able to regulate the devices without action from Congress. Under the Obama administration, the bureau had determined it could not regulate them. Given that prior position, ATF officials had indicated privately in the months after the Las Vegas massacre that any ban of bump stocks would require new legislation. With funerals underway for those who died at the Florida high school, Trump said he planned to host a "listening session" on Wednesday with high school students and teachers at the White House. He is scheduled to meet on Thursday with state and local officials to discuss school safety. New York Times