Lawmakers eye votes on gun laws this week

WASHINGTON—Congress returned to work Monday and lawmakers from both parties are focused on gun reforms. A group of 19 moderate House Republicans wrote a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., demanding he schedule a vote on background check legislation this week in the wake of the Feb. 14 deadly school shooting in Parkland, Fla. If passed, the bill would create financial incentives for states to report all criminal infractions to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. “Background checks are the first line of defense in law enforcement’s efforts to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, domestic abusers and those deemed dangerously mentally ill,” said Rep. Leonard Lance, R-N.J., in a statement. Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., sponsored the bill in the Senate and President Donald Trump said he would sign the measure if passed. Meanwhile, Democrats want more aggressive action and plan to introduce a bill banning semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15 used in the Parkland shooting. More than 100 House Democrats plan to co-sponsor the legislation, according to The Washington Post. Congress outlawed so-called assault weapons in 1994 but the ban expired in 2004. Republican leaders have not expressed interest in taking up such legislation and likely won’t consider scheduling a vote on the bill.