Sen. John Cornyn said on Wednesday his bipartisan talks with Connecticut Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy regarding the expansion of gun background checks have come to an end.
“Unfortunately, we’ve been unable to find an agreed-upon outcome, so basically, he suggested to me that there wasn’t any real reason to continue talking right now,” the Texas Republican told CNN.
Murphy expressed confidence about reaching some agreement with Republicans, even if it is not through discussions with Cornyn.
“I’ve spent a lot of time talking with Senator Cornyn about proposals to increase background checks,” Murphy said in a statement.
“I have been very open to compromise and I think Senator Cornyn was negotiating in good faith. But we haven’t been able to get to a bill that would meaningfully increase the number of gun sales that require background checks,” he added. “The good news is that I’m still talking with other Republican colleagues about different proposals to expand background checks, and I’m committed to getting something done.”
DOJ CRAFTS MODEL RED FLAG LEGISLATION FOR STATES AND MAY REQUIRE REGISTRATION FOR CERTAIN GUNS
The pair made headlines in late May when they quietly sought to put forth a bill that would tweak United States law on who needs to register as a federal firearms licensee, also known as an FFL. In the U.S., FFL’s must conduct background checks on all firearms sales.
“We need to clear that up,” Cornyn told NBC News. “That by definition will make more people get background checks because all federal firearms licensees have to do background checks.”
“What we’re trying to protect, or carve out, are the hobbyist and/or casual transactions between friends and family members but capture the people who literally are making a living and making a profit selling firearms and give that to the U.S. attorneys to prosecute,” he added.
The House, which heeded calls from President Joe Biden to pass gun reform, on March 11 voted 227-203, with just eight GOP votes, to move forward with legislation that would require background checks on nearly all firearms sales. The bill has since been stalled in the Senate in which it is unlikely to gain the necessary 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.
On Monday, the Justice Department released model red flag legislation — laws that allow local law enforcement to seize guns from those deemed a threat to themselves or others before a court appearance — for states to consider and issue a host of proposed changes to the classification of certain firearms through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives per Biden’s April gun control executive order.
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The DOJ also drew attention to a possible ATF rule change that would alter the definition of a rifle-style pistol “when individuals use accessories to convert pistols into short-barreled rifles.” The change from pistol to short-barreled rifle likely will require gun owners to register their weapons under the National Firearms Act. The NFA tightly regulates short-barreled rifles, which are long guns with a barrel length shorter than 16 inches.
To buy one, a person must register that firearm with the ATF and pay a $200 tax. Gun manufacturers have been selling guns that have barrel lengths shorter than 16 inches for years, but they are equipped with pistol braces, which allow a shooter to stabilize their arm while firing, making the gun a handgun in the eyes of the ATF. This helps to avoid the registration hassle and fee to obtain a similar firearm.
