Congress appears to be settling on the outlines of consensus for action on stricter gun controls, with moves to strengthen the background check system and to restrict sales of bump stocks the most likely areas of bipartisan action.
Moves to raise the age limit on sales of rifles will test the limits of the deal, though, and even Democratic leaders sounded doubtful about their ability to ban sales of military-style semi-automatic rifles.
President Trump’s suggestion to train and arm school faculty volunteers willing and adept enough to carry firearms is also meeting with stiff resistance. The president now says he would leave the decision up to states.
Congress returns to Washington after a weeklong vacation Monday to find the debate has only intensified since they left, just a day after the Parkland, Florida, high school shooting that has ignited the latest national battle over gun control.