Story highlights Donald Trump spoke on guns Tuesday night from a meeting in Vermont

The event happened at the same President Barack Obama was addressing gun control at a town hall in Virginia

Burlington, Vermont (CNN) Donald Trump on Thursday pledged to "get rid" of gun-free zones in school and on military bases, as President Barack Obama more than 500 miles away made his case for tightening gun control.

As Obama discussed his executive actions aimed at expanding background checks during a CNN-hosted town hall in Fairfax, Virginia, Trump berated the existence of "gun-free zones" and touted the benefits of law-abiding citizens carrying a gun.

"You know what a gun-free zone is to a sicko? That's bait," Trump said, before vowing to sign an order ending the practice of gun-free zones on military bases. It's unclear whether Trump also hopes to end gun-free zones in schools in the same way, as he appeared to suggest Thursday night.

When asked by CNN after his speech to comment on Obama's executive actions on guns -- as well as a new poll showing a majority of Americans in support of those executive actions -- Trump declined to respond. Instead, Trump continued to sign autographs for supporters, ignoring CNN's questions.

Trump, who frequently touts his strong support for Second Amendment rights, has spent little time slamming Obama's recent executive actions, simply telling his supporters that "they're not going to take your guns away folks" even though "they're trying."

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