Politics

The Senate Has Another Chance to Do Something About Gun Control

June 21st 2016

Four gun reform proposals died on the Senate floor on Monday, but senators may have yet another chance to vote on a piece of legislation this week that would limit the ability of suspected terrorists to purchase firearms.

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A "bipartisan compromise" bill introduced by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) on Tuesday would block individuals on the no-fly list and "selectee" list from buying guns. Those denied guns would also have the opportunity to appeal the decision under the proposed law, The Hill reports.

"Our goal is simple and straightforward: We want to make America safer," Collins said at a press conference on Tuesday. "All of us are united in our desire to getting something significant done on this vital issue."

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"Surely, the terrorist attacks in San Bernardino and in Orlando that took so many lives are a call for compromise — a plea for bipartisan action," Collins added.

Though the bill includes "common sense" measures that appear to have the support of senators on both sides of the aisle, some Senate Democrats, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), think the bill is too weak. Two similar measures — one that would bar individuals on the FBI watch list from buying guns and another that would delay gun sales to suspected terrorists for 72 hours to allow the Justice Department to investigate — were defeated on Monday.

"My view is that her alternative is not enough to close the loophole that creates the terror gap and allows terrorists to buy guns," Feinstein told The Hill on Monday. "Focusing so narrowly on these two smaller sets is not enough, and I'd like to tell you why: It would leave out a huge number of known or suspected terrorists."

Still, as frustration over congressional inaction on gun reform continues to mount, the proposal appears to be the Senate's best chance at accomplishing modest reform in the aftermath of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. A vote could be held as early as this week, Reuters reports.

RELATED: Senate Votes on Gun Control Proposals

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