here's what the president himself had to say about background checks today. >> we have very very strong background checks right now. but we have sort of missing areas and areas that don't complete the whole circle, and we're looking at different things and i have to tell you that it is a mental problem, and i've said it a hundred times, it's not the gun that pulls the trigger, it's the person that pulls the trigger. >> and when he was asked if he would support the background bill the democratic house has passed this year, he brought up the fact this his supporters believe in the second amendment. >> we are in very meaningful discussions with the democrats and i think the republicans are very unified, we are very strong in the second amendment. the democrats are not strong at all in the second amendment. i would say they're weak on the second amendment and we have to be careful of that. the democrats would, i believe, i think they would give up the second amendment, and the people that -- a lot of the people that put me where i am are strong