Trump: ‘Hundreds more’ would have been killed in Texas with stricter gun laws

President Trump on Tuesday said “hundreds more” would have died in the mass shooting at a Texas church had the citizen who pursued the gunman not possessed a gun.

Trump was asked during a press conference in South Korea whether the president would consider “extreme vetting” for purchasing a gun.

“If you did what you’re suggesting, there would have been no difference three days ago, and you might not have had that very brave person who happened to have a gun or a rifle in his truck go out and shoot him, and hit him and neutralize him,” Trump said. 

{mosads}“And I can only say this: If he didn’t have a gun, instead of having 26 dead, you would have had hundreds more dead. So that’s the way I feel about it. Not going to help.”

Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt confirmed Monday that two citizens pursued the gunman, 26-year-old Devin Kelley, after the shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. Tackitt said one individual “engaged in firefight” with Kelley at one point.

The Associated Press identified the man who shot Kelley as Stephen Willeford, who hit Kelley twice

Kelley was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he “wrecked out” fleeing the scene, according to Tackitt.

Twenty-six people were killed in the shooting.