Page 4 - aruba-today-20190911

A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 11 september 2019

Gun legislation stalls as

congressional leaders trade barbs

By LISA MASCARO and refuses to act. abiding citizens to exercise
MATTHEW DALY After a summer of dev- their Second Amendment
Associated Press astating mass shootings, rights, and we’re not going
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen- Congress appears no clos- there.”
ate Majority Leader Mitch er to approving legislation Still, the White House meet-
McConnell said Tues- to curb gun violence as ing reflected increased
day that Democrats are President Donald Trump pressure for Congress to
engaging in “theatrics” wavers on what kind of bill act following the spate of
over gun control legisla- he wants the lawmakers to mass shootings that killed
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., arrives for a tion, while House Speaker send for his signature. dozens of people.
news conference following a Senate policy luncheon on Capitol Nancy Pelosi warned that “Lives are at stake,” Pe- The White House’s legisla-
Hill, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019, in Washington. “people are dying” be- losi told reporters, visibly tive director met privately
Associated Press cause the Senate leader shaken by questions ask- with Republican senators
ing if the House could have Tuesday to discuss ideas
done more. the administration is consid-
“Don’t ask me what we ering, including so-called
haven’t done. We have red-flag legislation to allow
done it,” Pelosi said. “If you officials to take away guns
are annoyed with my impa- from people believed to
tience it’s because people be dangers to themselves
are dying because Senator or others and quicker im-
McConnell hasn’t acted. position of the death pen-
Why don’t you go ask him alty for mass shooters.
if he has any regrets for all McConnell said the sum-
the people who died be- mer’s mass shootings “de-
cause he hasn’t acted?” serve a response.” But he’s
McConnell refuses to allow waiting on the White House
a vote on a House-passed for next steps and only
bill to expand background wants to consider legisla-
checks for gun purchases tion Trump would sign into
because he says it’s not law. The White House had
clear the Senate would be previously warned it would
able to pass the legislation veto the Houseback-
or that Trump would sign it ground checks bill.
into law. White House spokesman
For Democratic leaders, Judd Deere said the meet-
who held a press confer- ing with GOP congressional
ence Monday pushing ac- leaders lasted well over an
tion on guns, “It’s all about hour and covered a range
trying to scare people,” of issues, not just guns. He
McConnell said. declined to say whether or
Louisiana Rep. Steve Scal- when Trump will release a
ise, the No. 2 House Repub- plan.
lican, took a similar hard But some GOP senators say
line after a meeting of GOP inaction is not an option
leaders Tuesday at the and they are anxious for
White House. Trump wants Trump to take the lead.
to work with Congress “to Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa.,
solve problems,” Scalise who has championed an-
said, while Democrats ap- other bill that would ex-
pear intent on being “more pand background checks,
aggressive in taking away told reporters, “It’s time to
people’s guns.” act now.”
Scalise was unimpressed Toomey has had several
by polls showing more than discussions with the presi-
90% support for stronger dent in recent weeks, but
background checks, say- said he still is “not sure” if
ing the House-passed bill Trump is rethinking his past
“just makes it harder for law- opposition to the bill.q