Democrats, NRA team up on gun bill (mental illness background checks)

[madville]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON – House Democratic leaders are working with the National Rifle Association to bolster laws blocking mentally ill people from buying guns.

Lacking support to enact strong new gun measures even after the Virginia Tech shootings, Democrats are instead resurrecting legislation, which has drawn broad bipartisan support and NRA backing, that would improve the national background-check system.
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Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., a strong NRA ally who has been a leading opponent of most gun-control legislation, is negotiating with the group on the background-check bill.
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Rep. McCarthy, D-NY, said the measure was the best the Democratic-controlled Congress could do even in the wake of the deadly shooting rampage Monday in which a disturbed gunman killed 32 and then himself.
"We're not going to do anything more on guns – it's just not going to happen. This is a pro-gun Congress," said Ms. McCarthy.





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