House Republican leaders will adjourn for the summer a day earlier than planned this week without taking up an anti-terrorism bill that contained a critical gun control provision.
In a closed-door meeting with rank-and-file Republicans, Speaker Paul Ryan told lawmakers he was eager for them to return to their districts and work on de-escalating the growing tensions across America stemming from a string of police shootings. But he said that doesn’t include an effort to pass the gun language before leaving.
“What we want to do is have a good conversation where we calm things down and we talk about solutions about how we can better improve our communities and our relationships between law enforcement and communities,” Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters following the meeting.
The House and Senate will adjourn this week for the summer and will not return until Sept. 6.
Those in the meeting said Ryan told lawmakers that he didn’t want the House engaging in a gun debate that in recent weeks prompted unprecedented, raucous floor demonstrations by House Democrats. Their “sit-in” disrupted the legislative schedule and drew national attention.
“There was a lot of discussion about fanning the flames, the passions about these gun issues,” Rep. John Fleming, R-La., told the Washington Examiner. “I think there is a feeling on both sides, Democrat and Republican, to kind of back away.”
A GOP aide said Ryan told lawmakers, “right now, given where the country is, that it’s probably not a good idea” to bring the bill to the floor.
The move averts an internal clash over the legislation, which many conservative lawmakers staunchly oppose.
The anti-terror bill contained language that would implement a three-day waiting period for individuals on a federal terror watch list who attempt to purchase firearms. The legislation is endorsed by many Senate Republicans as well as the National Rifle Association, but dozens of conservative House Republicans say it violates due process and curtails the Second Amendment.
Democrats, meanwhile, want gun control legislation that goes much further. They have held floor speeches in recent days calling for measures to expand background checks for gun purchases and to block those on the terror watch list from purchasing guns.
It’s not clear when the House may try to tackle gun control legislation.
Last week, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., agreed to a truce on the matter and to sit down and talk about a compromise, although GOP aides said no bipartisan meetings have been scheduled.
“If it happens,” Fleming said, “it will be after things settle down, when we come back in September.”
