WASHINGTON (AP) – Congress is expected to exit Washington for a months-long recess with no action on gun control, despite mass shootings in recent weeks and uproar from Democrats who have pushed for new legislation. Efforts to fund the fight against the Zika virus have also stalled, threatening the speedy development of a vaccine to protect women and their babies from Zika.
House Republican leaders tried last week to move legislation that would let federal authorities block gun sales to suspected terrorists, but only if they could prove in court within three days that the suspect was planning to engage in terrorism. It went nowhere as conservatives said it was too restrictive on firearms and too lax on battling extremism. Democrats also opposed the bill, saying it would be ineffective.
Republicans said Tuesday that no votes are expected this week before Congress adjourns for seven weeks until September. Emerging from a morning caucus meeting, Rep. Bill Flores, R-Texas, suggested that instead of legislating on the gun issue, GOP leaders think that more talk is needed.
“The action is to go back to our communities and have a candid conversation about the challenges we face as a country,” Flores said, adding that “there’s no need for us to try to cram a majority position down at this point.”
Partisan tensions over guns have been high since a mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, last month. House Democrats staged a lengthy House floor sit-in two weeks ago to demand gun control votes.