Bipartisan negotiators say deal on gun bill reached

The Washington Times ^ | June 20 | By Haris Alic

[RandFan]

Senate lawmakers finalized negotiations on bipartisan gun and school safety legislation Monday, with the bill text expected to be made public as soon as lawmakers return to Washington on Tuesday.

Lawmakers at the heart of the negotiations say a deal was clinched after Democrats made concessions to bring wary Republicans on board. Democrats compromised on incentives for states to adopt red-flag laws and the broadening of restrictions on gun ownership for people accused or convicted of domestic violence.

“I’m confident that there’s serious negotiation that [are] very close,” President Biden told reporters while vacationing at his oceanside home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

The turnaround marks a significant change from where the negotiations stood last week. Lawmakers departed Washington on Thursday frustrated that the deal was mired in the weeds.

“Indecision and delay jeopardize the likelihood of a bill because you can’t write what is undecided and without a bill, there is nothing to vote on,” said Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican involved in the negotiations. “It’s fish or cut bait.”

Lawmakers notably were divided over whether federal subsidies should be provided equally for states with and without red flag laws, which allow courts to confiscate firearms from individuals deemed a threat. Republicans argued that since some states would never pass such legislation, the proposal should make money eligible for alternative programs such as crisis intervention.

[BlackbirdSST]

Where and how was the NRA lobby involved in these decisions?

They have stepped up their notices for me to re-join before its too late. Aside from that I haven't seen or heard very much of the NRA lately.