SALON

Thursday, Feb 28, 2013 6:20 PM UTC

Senate committee postpones work on gun bills

The delay will give Chuck Schumer and Tom Coburn more time to reach a compromise on background checks

By

Topics: From the Wires, Chuck Schumer, Senate Judiciary Committee, Tom Coburn, Universal background checks, Gun Control,

Senate committee postpones work on gun bills(Credit: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed its work Thursday on writing bills curbing guns, probably until next week.

The committee is considering Democratic-sponsored bills that would ban assault weapons, strengthen federal laws against illegal gun trafficking, provide money for school safety improvements and expand the requirement for background checks for gun purchasers.

Such delays are common for the committee, which often grants them to give senators more time to work on legislation. As the panel began discussing the measures Thursday, top Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa said he had questions about the constitutionality and cost of some of the measures and said senators needed more time to trying working out differences.

The postponement will also prolong the period of time that Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Tom Coburn, R-Okla., have to try crafting a compromise on requiring background checks for nearly all gun purchases. Talks between the two have been stuck over Coburn’s opposition to a requirement that records be kept of private sales between individuals.

Recalling a plea by wounded former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., that lawmakers take action to curb guns, Commmittee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said, “I agree that we must act, and today is the next step in that process.”

Leahy assured Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., that she would get a vote on her bill banning assault weapons and high capacity ammunition magazines. That measure, in particular, has drawn strong Republican opposition and been treated warily by some moderate Democrats, and it faces long odds for congressional approval.

Associated Press

More Associated Press.

Next Article

You Might Also Like

More Related Stories

Featured Slide Shows

Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

close X
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11
  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

  • Recent Slide Shows

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11

Related Videos

More Related Stories

Comments

 3 Comments

Comment Preview

Your name will appear as username ( settings | log out )

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href=""> <b> <em> <strong> <i> <blockquote>

follow salon

Most Read

Popular on Reddit

links from salon.com

vote
Virginia Man Pleads Guilty To Forging Newt Gingrich Primary Signatures: Adam Ward pleaded guilty to 36 counts of voter fraud and perjury
80 points81 points | 8 comments
vote
Study: Young people are more liberal than they think they are.
65 points66 points | 22 comments
vote
Here Come the Edward Snowden Truthers
59 points60 points | 22 comments
vote
The internal war between House Oversight Committee chair Darrell Issa and ranking Democrat Elijah Cummings blew up again Tuesday, when Cummings released the full transcript of a five-hour interview with the conservative Republican IRS screening manager.
41 points42 points | 6 comments
vote
How cash secretly rules surveillance policy: Today's congressional hearing was a joke. The reason: Firms like Booz Allen bankroll and own Congress. Here's how
41 points42 points | 6 comments

From Around the Web

Presented by Scribol
listener_new_rect The Listener: "We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves": Growing up primate

Recommendations