US Senate gun bill would expand background checks
23 March 2013 6:20 AM IST
Gun control legislation that the US Senate will debate next month will include an expansion of federal background checks for firearms buyers, Majority Leader Harry Reid said, indicating that lawmakers' most effective possible response to the December school massacre will move forward.
The shooting that left 20 young children dead brought gun safety back as a top national issue, and President Barack Obama's administration moved quickly to win lawmakers support for several gun safety proposals before the high emotions faded.
But this week, Reid said the most controversial proposal, an assault weapons ban, had been dropped to make the remaining legislation to win approval in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats but has plenty of gun rights supporters or lawmakers supported by gun-rights groups.
Many gun supporters argue that gun restrictions run counter to the constitutional right to bear firearms. The measure's fate remains uncertain, and it will all but certainly need Republican support to survive. Democrats intend to take an aggressive approach in the effort to broaden the background checks, which currently required for transactions involving federally licensed firearms dealers but not private sales at gun shows or online.
The background check system is to keep guns from criminals, people with mental problems and others considered dangerous.
The shooting that left 20 young children dead brought gun safety back as a top national issue, and President Barack Obama's administration moved quickly to win lawmakers support for several gun safety proposals before the high emotions faded.
But this week, Reid said the most controversial proposal, an assault weapons ban, had been dropped to make the remaining legislation to win approval in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats but has plenty of gun rights supporters or lawmakers supported by gun-rights groups.
Many gun supporters argue that gun restrictions run counter to the constitutional right to bear firearms. The measure's fate remains uncertain, and it will all but certainly need Republican support to survive. Democrats intend to take an aggressive approach in the effort to broaden the background checks, which currently required for transactions involving federally licensed firearms dealers but not private sales at gun shows or online.
The background check system is to keep guns from criminals, people with mental problems and others considered dangerous.
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