Senators Quietly Seeking New Path on Gun Control

[DanTex]

WASHINGTON — Talks to revive gun control legislation are quietly under way on Capitol Hill as a bipartisan group of senators seeks a way to bridge the differences that led to last week’s collapse of the most serious effort to overhaul the country’s gun laws in 20 years.

Drawing on the lessons from battles in the 1980s and ’90s over the Brady Bill, which failed in Congress several times before ultimately passing, gun control supporters believe they can prevail by working on a two-pronged strategy. First, they are identifying senators who might be willing to change their votes and support a background check system with fewer loopholes.

Second, they are looking to build a national campaign that would better harness overwhelming public support for universal background checks — which many national polls put at near 90 percent approval — to pressure lawmakers.

...

Meanwhile, a separate gun measure, an anti-trafficking bill, is the subject of talks between Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand, Democrat of New York, and two Republican senators who voted no on the background check bill. The Republicans, Senators Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, are discussing ways they might support the bill, which would criminalize the shipping or transfer of guns to someone who is barred from possessing a firearm.

...

It's definitely not over.

The gun trafficking bill is a good start, and should be non-controversial (of course, so should universal background checks). The thing is, if we can cut down on gun trafficking, that would most benefit blue states where the local gun laws are decent, but are undercut by guns trafficked in from elsewhere. If Mississippi really wants to have an astronomical homicide rate, at least it won't affect the rest of the country as much.

[femmocrat]

1. Ayotte might be trying to reverse her slide in the polls.

Or maybe she actually cares about gun-trafficking? Could go either way.

[spin]

2. This approach makes sense and might actually make a difference. ...

The push for the AWB was an overreach as it was obvious from the start that it would have an extremely difficult time passing in the Senate and little or no chance in the House.

Perhaps the best we will be able to accomplish at this time is to require background checks on firearms sold in gun shows, to improve our NICS background check system and to better finance and enforce laws against the straw purchase and smuggling of firearms into our inner cities. Few gun owners would oppose such ideas. I favor universal background checks but many gun owners are strongly opposed to this idea.

I personally favor imposing strong penalties on anyone caught illegally carrying a firearm but this is largely a state issue. Of course those who wish to see an AWB can work to get one in their state.

[appacom]

3. Appreciate your thoughtfulness. Thanks.

[premium]

4. I like this approach.

Quietly and behind the scenes. Get this one passed and then on to UBC, which should have been passed the first time.

[ellisonz]

5. Change is almost always gradual. n/t