WASHINGTON — Although the Senate left Washington for the weekend, it did not agree on gun legislation. However, negotiators were planning to meet virtually Friday to resolve any lingering issues and project optimism.
After a meeting in person, Sen. John Cornyn, Texas’ chief Republican negotiator said, “We are not there yet.” “I hope that we can resolve any remaining differences.”
Some provisions, such as school safety and mental health funding, are well-established. Some provisions, such as background check enhancements and red flag provisions, are still being developed.
The Senate is looking at incentives for states that adopt red flag laws. This allows police officers and family members to petition courts to grant orders to keep guns away from dangerous people. This is to encourage more states to adopt such laws, make them easier to implement and increase knowledge about how to use them.
“It’s more sticks than carrots,” said a Senate aide familiar in the negotiations. This contrasts with the House bill that was passed Thursday and would create a federal red Flag law, which would allow people to go to federal courts to issue such orders.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who is working with Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on red flag language, stated, “You must write it out, going for a bunch people to read it, then they will make changes.” It’s a tedious process.
“It is essential enough that we have new money. Graham stated that he doesn’t want existing programs to be cut. We have to find the offsets. This is what we are doing. It is possible to offset this by doing certain things. We’re not talking about billions, but just a few billion.
He stated that negotiators are looking for a deal in the “next few days”.
Senator Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said that he would “bring a measure up to the floor for a ballot as quickly as possible” as soon as an agreement is reached.
Background checks are the most difficult remaining problem.
After Thursday’s meeting, Sen. Chris Murphy, Connecticut’s top Democratic negotiator, said to reporters, “You can feel we’re not far from you.” This is really difficult stuff, both policywise and politically. We are not far from it. We’re still not there. We are not yet there.”
Democrats sought a nearly universal background check rule that Republicans rejected.
The bipartisan group is instead trying to strengthen existing checks, by adding juvenile records to the system. This would include Americans aged 18-21 who might have displayed dangerous behavior as minors, which would prohibit adults buying guns.
Cornyn stated that the killer in Uvalde (Texas) “showed up as if it were yesterday after his 18th birthday” and purchased a weapon.
He said on the Senate floor, “There was insight into him many mental health problems or terroristic threats by fellow students, potential drug abuse — other things that, if he were a adult, he would not pass a background search.” The merchant who sold him the firearms didn’t know much about his past track record, as juvenile records are usually sealed and not subject to the NICS review.
NICS stands for the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
Senators are also looking into whether non-traditional gun sellers should be required to register as Federal Firearms Licensees. This would require them to run background checks on potential buyers before selling weapons.
The group seems to be focused on the Sens’ bill regarding mental health. Roy Blunt (Republican-Mo.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), would expand a pilot program to expand behavioral health services. It is currently being implemented in nine States. Sources familiar with the discussion said that the bill would cost approximately $10 billion and that senators have offered offsets.
Negotiators are also looking to redirect funds already allocated for school security.
The Senate is being urged to act by House Democrats who have passed a package of gun bills on Thursday. This includes raising the minimum age for purchasing AR-15-style weapons from 21 to 21. Sean Casten, an Illinois Republican who won a once-safe seat in the House, read the names of children killed by gun violence at the floor.
Republicans claim they feel pressure to act.
