Local residents react to president's new call for travel ban in wake of London attacks

Trump says ban needed for 'extra level of safety'

DANVILLE – Local residents are sharing their thoughts on President Donald Trump's renewed call for a temporary travel ban in the U.S. in response to Saturday night's terror attacks in London.

As news of the attacks in London spread, Trump wasted no time tweeting out his response.

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In one of his tweets, he said, "We need to be smart, vigilant, and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the travel ban as an extra level of safety."

Pittsylvania County resident Jerry Grubb said he's not opposed to a travel ban, especially in light of the latest attacks.

"(President Trump's) got some very capable people working with him. They have recommended a travel ban. I think you need to follow your leadership," Grubb said.

As for his reaction to Trump's renewed call for a travel ban, he hopes it will help encourage politicians to take steps to keep the country safer, whether by implementing a ban or through some other option.

"I grew up back in the '50s and '60s and our concern was a third world war. I believe we're in a third world war and the sooner our politicians and our courts begin to accept that fact (the better), because if they don't there's going to be a lot of blood on their hands," Grubb emphasized.

Late last month, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, upheld a March ruling by a Maryland judge who blocked the ban, saying it unconstitutionally discriminates against Muslims.

Pittsylvania County resident David Scott hopes Trump's renewed call for a travel ban will make people realize that a ban is not necessarily what is needed, but rather a better way to vet people coming into the U.S.

"I think originally, President Trump said he would like to have a travel ban until we're able to come up with an idea to determine who is and who isn't a threat to the United States; who is a terrorist and who isn't," Scott said.

"So if it's just for that purpose, then I would have to default to the president's opinion," Scott continued.

Trump has proposed temporarily banning people from six majority-Muslim countries from coming to the U.S.