Elon Musk backs ‘tight’ background checks for all gun sales in wake of mass shooting in Texas

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk referred to as for “tight” background checks for all gun purchases whereas additionally backing gun possession as a “safeguard” in opposition to political tyranny — a day after a lone gunman killed no less than 19 kids and two adults at an elementary faculty in south Texas.

In an e-mail to CNBC, Musk blamed the media for giving murderers the eye he believes they crave by overlaying mass shootings.

“Concerning current occasions, the shooters are clearly doing this to generate probably the most quantity of consideration doable. Why is the media doing precisely what the mass-murderers need?” Musk requested.

Musk corporations have a giant footprint in Texas. Electrical automobile makers Tesla moved firm headquarters to Austin from California final yr as a result of Lone Star state’s much less stringent enterprise rules, and state and native incentives value about $64 million.

Tesla formally opened an enormous new automobile and battery manufacturing unit close to Austin in April.

Musk additionally runs SpaceX, which launches re-usable rockets from Boca Chica, in south Texas.

The CEO has change into extra vocal politically in current months, saying earlier in Could that he plans to vote Republican, earlier than he waded into the gun management debate.

He stated in emails to CNBC on Wednesday that he helps “tight background checks” for all gun gross sales and limiting gross sales of assault weapons to folks in particular circumstances, like gun vary house owners, or individuals who reside in a “excessive danger location, like gang warfare.”

No less than 19 kids and two adults had been killed in a mass capturing at an Uvalde, Texas elementary faculty on Tuesday, certainly one of a spate of mass shootings within the U.S. up to now this yr.

“I strongly consider that the fitting to bear arms is a vital safeguard in opposition to potential tyranny of presidency. Traditionally, sustaining their energy over the folks is why these in energy didn’t enable public possession of weapons,” Musk stated in one other e-mail to CNBC.

Forbes ranks Musk because the richest particular person on the planet with a internet value of over $200 billion. He’s within the means of buying Twitter for a deal that was initially value over $40 billion. He stated he would let former President Donald Trump, who has been completely banned from the social community, again on the platform if the deal goes via.

Twitter banned the previous president in January 2021 following a siege by his supporters on the U.S. Capitol. On the time, Twitter stated it made the choice “as a result of danger of additional incitement of violence.”

Trump was an avid tweeter and on the time had greater than 80 million followers on the platform. Musk has extra followers on Twitter now, personally, together with legions of shareholders and followers of his corporations.

In Republican-dominated Texas, SpaceX is searching for FAA authorization to increase its Boca Chica facility and conduct launches of its Starship Tremendous Heavy autos there. Environmentalists and different native teams have pushed again in opposition to a number of the firm’s plans.

Musk was not too long ago accused of sexually harassing a SpaceX flight attendant, in response to a report by Enterprise Insider. Musk has denied sexually harassing anybody.

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who continues to be scheduled to attend the pro-gun Nationwide Rifle Affiliation annual assembly on Friday, counts Musk amongst his allies. Trump can be set to attend the NRA assembly. Abbott stated final yr in an interview with CNBC that he speaks with Musk “continuously.”

“Elon needed to get out of California as a result of in a part of the social insurance policies in California and Elon constantly tells me that he likes the social insurance policies within the state of Texas,” Abbott stated on the time, after he launched a near-ban on abortions within the state.

Musk didn’t reply when requested if he would name Abbott to push him to strengthen background test legal guidelines on the Texas state stage. Democratic lawmakers in Congress have referred to as on their colleagues to cross complete gun reform measures for the reason that Texas capturing.

In December, one Tesla employee shot and killed a co-worker within the parking zone of Tesla’s Fremont, California manufacturing unit.