Senate Democrats Said to Delay Vote on U.S. Gun Legislation

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Bloomberg

Senate Democrats Said to Delay Vote on U.S. Gun Legislation
By Heidi Przybyla & Kathleen Hunter - Apr 16, 2013 1:39 PM CT .

Senate Democrats are delaying a vote on gun-safety legislation as they struggle to win support for expanding the background check system for gun purchasers.

A vote on the bipartisan background-check proposal might not be held until April 18, said a Democratic aide who sought anonymity to discuss the private plans. Democrats are seeking votes for the measure from a small group of pro-gun lawmakers in their own party as well as a handful of Republicans.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters that votes will be held “as soon as we can,” without giving a specific date. He said he wasn’t asserting that Democrats had enough votes for the amendment, though “we certainly feel we have the wind at our back. The American people agree with it.”

The Senate measure would expand background checks of gun purchasers, increase funding for school safety and set new penalties for gun trafficking. It gained momentum last week when West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin and Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey agreed on the bolstered background-check plan.


Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-16/senate-democrats-said-to-delay-vote-on-gun-legislation.html

[Robb]

1. More time for all of us. Let's twist some arms!

[AnotherMcIntosh]

2. You're not going to twist anyones' arms. At most, you're going to post comments on the web.

[onehandle]

3. Gun nuts probably think this helps them.

Wanna bet?

[Robb]

4. They're declaring victory.

Good.

[alp227]

5. Wash Post reports: Senate reaches deal on amendments to gun bill

The Senate will begin voting Wednesday on nine proposed changes to federal gun legislation, including efforts to expand background checks, ban assault weapons and increase funding for mental health programs.

Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) announced a deal late Tuesday that would allow votes on the legislation, but each of the amendments will need at least 60 votes to be added to the main gun bill.

Senators will consider a bipartisan proposal to expand background checks to cover most commercial gun sales, a plan that lacks sufficient support to pass. They also will vote on Democratic plans to ban military-style assault weapons and limit the size of ammunition magazines; Democratic aides expect both proposals will not pass.

Votes also will be held on a bipartisan amendment that would make minor changes to the bill’s provisions regarding gun trafficking and a bipartisan plan to provide more funding for mental health programs.

Republican senators secured votes on four proposals. The first, by Charles E. Grassley (Iowa) and Ted Cruz (Tex.), is a package of GOP proposals that would improve the mental health classifications used in the background check reporting system. It is expected to include a proposal Grassley demanded that would prevent abuses like those reported in Operation Fast and Furious, a botched effort to track illegal weapons activity along the U.S.-Mexican border.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/senate-reaches-deal-on-amendments-to-gun-bill/2013/04/16/30ce3568-a6bf-11e2-b029-8fb7e977ef71_singlePage.html