WASHINGTON—House Democrats and Republicans seem just as destined for an election-season clash over guns as they did before a Democratic sit-in on the chamber’s floor ushered in lawmakers’ July 4 recess two weeks ago.
Nearly a month after the Orlando mass-shooting catapulted the issue back onto the nation’s radar, the two parties were meeting separately Wednesday to map strategy.
Republicans have incorporated some gun curbs into a broader bill aimed at addressing domestic terrorism that the House has planned to debate this week, though their plans seemed less certain late Tuesday. Democrats are insisting on amendments tightening gun restrictions far further, which House Speaker Paul Ryan seemed to nix Tuesday, and each party says the other’s proposals are defective.
Ryan, R-Wis., met Tuesday evening with two leaders of the sit-in, Reps. John Lewis of Georgia and John Larson of Connecticut. The Democrats said Ryan listened respectfully and mentioned his party’s concerns about protecting gun owners’ rights, but made no promise to allow votes on the Democrats’ proposals.
