Doing so, said Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, could lead to a kind of waiting period for 18- to 20-year-olds who buy semi-automatic weapons. It could take, he said, “two to three weeks at a minimum,” potentially trawling through juvenile records, but he added that Senate negotiators are looking for ways for gun buyers to appeal for expedited processes either through the courts or elsewhere. mechanism.
After a group of four senators discussed the potential deal Monday night, the full Senate Republican conference will meet for lunch Tuesday, allowing GOP leaders to take the temperature of their conference. While Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wants a deal this week, the two sides still have a number of major disagreements to iron out as they scramble to reach a deal amid public outcry over the shootings. massive across the country.
Bipartisan negotiators are exploring a handful of ideas, including encouraging states to enact red-flag laws that allow people deemed a danger to themselves or others to temporarily take away guns, instituting some changes during the background check process, reinforcing mindset. health system and strengthen school safety. There is also discussion about new regulations on arms trafficking between states and possible new legislation on the safe storage of weapons in the residences of gun owners.
Tillis said “correct” when asked if banning 18- to 20-year-olds from purchasing such firearms was off the table, but was quick to point out that lawmakers are exploring how to deal with juvenile registrations among gun buyers. weapons. “That, naturally, will probably force a period of time, call it a waiting period, or however long it takes to have that information,” he said.
Similarly, when asked about raising the purchase age for semiautomatic weapons, Texas Sen. John Cornyn, the lead Republican negotiator in the talks, noted that a three-judge panel on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals of the USA ruled that such a law is unconstitutional, even though the Supreme Court has not yet done so.
“I would say it’s going to be controversial,” Cornyn told CNN of raising the age. “But that is being discussed.”
He added that juvenile records were the key part of the discussion as of Monday night.
A Cornyn aide told CNN later Monday that “they are not considering anything that would add new disqualifying elements or require background checks in new instances.”
Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who signed a law barring 18- to 20-year-olds from buying semi-automatic rifles when serving as state governor after the Parkland massacre, said he would oppose a bill similar to federal level.
“This should all be done at the state level,” he said, adding that “changing laws is easier at the state level.”
While many Republican senators were wary of raising the age to 21 for gun purchases, moderate Sen. Susan Collins pointed to other possibilities, such as requiring a parent or guardian to sign off on the purchase of an AR-15 or similar weapon for people of 18 years. -twenty-one. The Maine Republican also said she might support a waiting period for people in that age group while a more thorough background check is completed.
Senate Minority Whip John Thune of South Dakota, the top vote counter at the Republican conference, said “it’s hard to say” whether any deal might have enough Republican support to break a filibuster. He said the leaders would make a better sense after more discussions on Tuesday.
Manchin, the House’s most conservative Democrat, also said he “would have no problem considering” backing a ban on so-called assault weapons, a proposal pushed by the White House and Democratic leaders but that he has no chance of success. winning the necessary 60 votes in the Senate.
This story has been updated with additional details.
CNN’s Clare Foran contributed to this report.
Reference-www.cnn.com