President Trump also said authorities should have confiscated firearms from the Florida school shooter, "whether they had a right to or not."

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President Trump on Wednesday told members of Congress during a televised White House meeting that conservative lawmakers are afraid of the NRA and expressed support for confiscating guns from people suspected of being dangerous before legal proceedings can take place. In the meeting with congressional Republicans and Democrats, Trump argued there should be more guns in the hands of trained people — he said "gun-free zones" need to be abolished — while airing ideas that stunned conservative lawmakers. Among them, Trump suggested authorities should "take the guns immediately from people that you could judge immediately they are mentally ill." Trump referenced the Florida school shooter, who killed 17 students and faculty earlier this month, and blamed police for not disarming him beforehand.

"I think they should have taken [the guns] away immediately, whether they had the right or not," he said. Completely unscripted during the televised discussion, Trump at times also suggested avoiding or ignoring the constitutional right to due process. In one exchange, Vice President Mike Pence referenced a California law that requires those under restraining orders to turn over firearms or weapons in their possession. "The focus is to literally give families and give local law enforcement additional tools if an individual is reported to be a potential danger to themselves or others," Pence said. "Allow due process so no one's rights are trampled, but the ability to go to court, obtain an order and then collect not only the firearms, but any weapons." Trump interjected. "Or take the guns first, go through due process second," he said. "A lot of times by the time you go to court, it takes so long to go to court, to get the due process procedures. I like taking the guns early."

Trump on taking guns away from potential mass shooters: “I like taking the guns early...take the guns first, go thr… https://t.co/f6znBwjnYQ

Throughout the meeting, it was clear that emotions were running high. At one point, Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California looked absolutely giddy when Trump suggested adding an assault weapons ban to legislation. In another moment, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley hung his head in seeming disbelief during a rant about how Hollywood depictions of violence are to blame.

Trump then asked Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, a fellow Republican, if his proposed bill included a provision to raise the minimum age to purchase an AR-15 rifle — the weapon used in the Florida school shooting — from 18 to 21. "We didn't address it," Toomey said. "You know why, because you're afraid of the NRA," Trump said, following his statement with laughter. "It's a big issue. A lot of people are talking about it."

President Trump tells Republican Senator Pat Toomey, "You're afraid of the NRA"