Doing so, said Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, could lead to a waiting period for 18- to 20-year-olds who buy semi-automatic weapons. He said it could take “at least two to three weeks” to potentially search for juvenile records, but added that Senate negotiators are looking for ways for gun buyers to resort to expedited processes through courts or other mechanism.
After a group of four senators talked about the possible deal Monday night, the full GOP Senate conference is scheduled to meet for lunch on Tuesday, allowing GOP leaders to take the temperature of their conference. Although Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wants an agreement this week, the two sides still have a number of major disagreements to resolve as they race to reach an agreement amid public outcry over mass shootings across the country.
Bipartisan negotiators are analyzing a handful of ideas, such as encouraging states to enact red-flag laws, which allow weapons to be temporarily removed from people who are considered dangerous to them or others, by introducing some changes. during the background check process, reinforcing the mindset. health system and strengthen school safety. There is also talk of new regulations on arms trafficking between states and possible new legislation on the safe storage of weapons in the homes of gun owners.
Tillis said he was “right” when asked if banning 18- to 20-year-olds from buying these firearms was off the table, but he quickly noted that lawmakers are exploring how to deal with child records between arms buyers. “This, of course, will probably force a period of time, call it a waiting period, or the time it takes to have that information,” he said.
Similarly, when asked about raising the age for the purchase of semi-automatic weapons, Texas Sen. John Cornyn – the GOP’s chief negotiator in the talks – noted that a three-judge tribunal of the 9th Court of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that this law. it is unconstitutional, although the Supreme Court has not yet done so.
“I’d say it’s going to be controversial,” Cornyn told CNN about raising the age. “But that’s being discussed.”
He added that youth records were the key part of the discussion from Monday evening.
“I think there seems to be a lot of interest in getting a more complete history and not just letting people who turn 18 with a criminal or mental health record go through background checks like this guy did,” Cornyn said. , referring to the shooter in the Uvalde, Texas, massacre. “And you can’t look back and see if there are mental health issues or criminal history issues that would otherwise disqualify you.” However, Cornyn also threw cold water to expand background checks for gun demonstrations and Internet sales, something proposed under the Manchin. -Toomey plan from the previous decade. He noted that he had failed in 2013. “I think that answers the question,” he said.
A Cornyn aide told CNN later Monday that “nothing is being considered that adds new disqualifying elements or forces background checks in new cases.”
Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who signed a law banning 18- to 20-year-olds from buying semi-automatic rifles when they served as governor of the state after the Parkland massacre, said he would oppose it. to a similar bill at the federal level.
“All of this has to be done at the state level,” he said, adding that “changing the laws is easier at the state level.”
A red-flag policy, known as Risk Protection Orders, was another part of the extensive package of weapons Scott signed as governor just three weeks after a teenage gunman killed 17 people at school secondary Marjory Stoneman Douglas, but opposes taking Congress. that step.
While many Republican senators were wary of raising the age to 21 to buy weapons, moderate Sen. Susan Collins noted other possibilities, such as requiring parents or guardians to sign the purchase of weapons. an AR-15 or similar weapon for 18-year-olds. -21. The Maine Republican also said he could support a waiting period for people in that age group while completing a more thorough background check.
South Dakota Senate Minority Whip John Thune of South Dakota, the top vote counter at the Republican conference, said “it’s hard to say” whether a deal could have enough GOP support to break a deadlock. He said leaders would make more sense after further discussions on Tuesday.
Earlier Monday, Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat who is part of a small bipartisan group of Senate negotiators trying to reach an agreement, expressed support for raising the age to 21 to buy semi-automatic weapons and asked why individuals need to have a high standard. AR-15 style propelled weapons.
Manchin, the House’s most conservative Democrat, also said he “would have no problem looking” to support the ban on so-called assault weapons, a proposal pushed by the White House and Democratic leaders, but not he has no chance of winning the required 60 votes in the Senate.
This story has been updated with additional details.
CNN’s Clare Foran contributed to this report.