Trump May Not Support Raising Age Limit to Buy Firearms.
LEMON: We have breaking news on many fronts tonight including the downgrading of Jared Kushner's security clearance and new development in the ongoing Russia investigation. We're also following the debate over guns in the wake of the Florida school massacre and word that President Trump may not support raising the age limit to buy certain firearms even though he said he would. I want to bring in David Jolly, he is a former republican congressman from Florida. Congressman, thank you so much for joining us this evening. Today was a day that we saw so much news on Russia and the White House intrigue. But first I have to ask you what's your reaction about today's events?</s>DAVID JOLLY, (R) FORMER UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE: Well, listen, on the gun debate, I think we're seeing this departure between what's happening in the State of Florida and what's happening federally. We're also seeing Donald Trump try to negotiate where he is on the issue. Look, at the end of the day, what is not being talked about on the gun debate is this. For background checks to really be effective we have to have this national conversation about whether or not mental health comes into play for background checks, whether or not non-adjudicated cases come into play on background checks. And no party is speaking to that right now. I think that's a conversation we have to have as a country.</s>LEMON: Well, I wonder if you think the window is closing on the gun control debate, as it has so many times before. Listen to Sarah Sanders...</s>JOLLY: Sure.</s>LEMON: ... this is her earlier today responding to reports that the president backing off the idea of raising the age to purchase an AR-15 and other weapons to 21.</s>SARAH HUCKABEE-SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president still supports raising the age limits to 21 for the purchase of certain firearms.</s>LEMON: What do you think the president's position is at this point?</s>JOLLY: I think it is now being influenced by the NRA. Listen, we have seen republicans, both Donald Trump, Rick Scott in the state of Florida and others begin to take positions that challenge the NRA's doctrine, if you will. And we have to give credit to those decisions. I mean, this is a tricky area for people who are critical of the President of the United States, people who distrust the president of the United States, if we are talking about incremental changes when it comes to gun control we want to embrace those. But at the end of the day, Don, nothing is being talked about that really would change gun laws in a way that protect us from these mass casualty events. Yes, in this specific case raising the age limit to 21 would change that. But what we're really talking about, the baseline in all of these cases is a mental health situation that is not ever subject to a background check. And nobody is talking about that.</s>LEMON: Let's follow up a little bit more on the 21 thing.</s>JOLLY: Sure.</s>LEMON: Because the NRA does not support raising the age limit to 21 for semiautomatic guns. A key GOP congressional source tells CNN he doesn't see a path forward for it. The number three republican Senator John Thune said I just don't see that passing. I don't think there are -- you know, the votes in the Senate. I doubt there will be in the House either. And this is House Speaker Paul Ryan. Watch this.</s>PAUL RYAN, UNITED STATES SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: We shouldn't be banning guns for law-abiding citizens. We should be focusing on making sure that citizens who should not get the guns in the first place don't get those guns. And that is why we see a big breakdown in the system here.</s>LEMON: You said do you think the president is being influenced now by the NRA. So, how far.</s>JOLLY: Sure.</s>LEMON: Do you think the president is going to push this without support from the republicans or the NRA or do you seems like -- do you think it seems like it's going to go by the wayside?</s>JOLLY: It's going by the wayside, Don. Nothing is going to happen in Washington. And I said that with lament. I truly do. But the tactic of the gun lobby to delay, delay, delay. Look what happened after Las Vegas, the idea of a bump stock, delayed, delayed, delayed. There is not consensus. Even Steve Scalise, a colleague of mine, a friend of mine, who is subject to the attack, the ambush on the softball field he said he is not hearing the outcry of the gun control lobby. Well, they're not listening in Washington, D.C. And they're going to delay this as far as they can. Look, the fix NICS bill that is being considered on Capitol Hill does nothing more than to say enforce current raw. Nobody is willing to suggest that we need to begin to approach the conversation about personal liberties, whether or not mental health comes into play, whether or not non- adjudicated criminal cases come into play.</s>LEMON: Congressman Jolly, I appreciate your time. Thank you.</s>JOLLY: Good to be with you.</s>LEMON: When we come back, the president said last summer if Mueller were to look into his personal finances he would be crossing, this is a quote, "a red line." And now it appears the special counsel is doing just that. What it all has to do with Russia, that's next.