Trump challenged to a debate on gun violence

Nicole Gaudiano | USA TODAY

The president of a major gun violence prevention group is challenging President Trump to a debate after his Sunday tweet in response to the London terror attack.

Trump, a gun-rights supporter, wrote amid a series of tweets, “Do you notice we are not having a gun debate right now? That’s because they used knives and a truck!” Seven were killed and dozens were injured in the attacks.

Do you notice we are not having a gun debate right now? That's because they used knives and a truck! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2017

Dan Gross of the Brady Campaign highlighted Trump’s tweet while responding to the Orlando workplace shooting on Monday that left at least five people dead, which he called a “tragic example of the American gun violence that kills 93 people every day.”

"The president indicated over the weekend he wants to have a gun debate, so name the time and place,” Gross wrote in a statement. “I'd be more than happy to help him understand why gun violence is the most pressing public health epidemic in our country — the toll it takes on families, our economy, and our national security. So, the president is right, we should have a substance-based policy debate on gun violence and the solutions to address it, and I'd be happy to meet him any time, anywhere."

On Sunday, former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, who survived a gunshot wound to the head, responded directly to the president’s tweet. The 2011 shooting in Tucson killed six of her constituents and wounded 12 others.

“Mr. President, every day we are having a gun debate because every day 90 people in our country die from gun violence. Many of them are kids,” she tweeted.

Mr. President, every day we are having a gun debate because every day 90 people in our country die from gun violence. Many of them are kids. https://t.co/Pv6z2ILKl1 — Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) June 4, 2017

In April, Trump was the first president since Ronald Reagan to address the National Rifle Association’s annual convention. The organization spent more than $30 million in support of his candidacy.