President Trump: 'No way' United States will repeal Second Amendment on guns

WASHINGTON — President Trump, the recipient of support from the National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups, seized the opportunity Wednesday to stick up for both firearms and conservative judges.

The reason for the opportunity: A New York Times column by retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens calling for repeal of the Second Amendment guaranteeing the right to bear arms, saying it has been used to block reasonable gun control legislation.

"THE SECOND AMENDMENT WILL NEVER BE REPEALED!" Trump tweeted in response. "As much as Democrats would like to see this happen, and despite the words yesterday of former Supreme Court Justice Stevens, NO WAY."

While he was at it, the president also cited this year's elections for the Senate, which confirms judicial nominees: "We need more Republicans in 2018 and must ALWAYS hold the Supreme Court!"

Stevens, who was appointed to the Supreme Court by Republican President Gerald Ford in 1975 and who retired in 2010, wrote his column in the wake of this past weekend's gun control demonstrations in cities nationwide.

More:Former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens: Repeal the Second Amendment

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Repeal of the Second Amendment is required in part because of a 2008 high court decision restricting the rights of governments to regulate firearms, Stevens wrote in an article in which he  also criticized the NRA.

"Overturning that decision via a constitutional amendment to get rid of the Second Amendment would be simple and would do more to weaken the NRA’s ability to stymie legislative debate and block constructive gun control legislation than any other available option," Stevens wrote.