GOP senator plans to unveil compromise to bar suspected terrorists from buying guns
Sen. Susan Collins plans to unveil a bipartisan compromise on Tuesday aiming to block suspected terrorists from purchasing a gun in the U.S., her spokeswoman confirmed Monday.
Negotiations are still ongoing, but the Maine Republican is working with both Democrats and Republicans on the new package.
As of Monday evening, the legislation would block terrorist suspects who are on the government's "No-Fly" or terrorist watch lists from buying a gun, but would also provide due process.
"Senator Collins' proposal would provide due process by allowing an individual to appeal a decision blocking his or her purchase of a firearm, and, if successful, to be awarded attorney's fees," her spokeswoman said.
The legislation will also contain a "five-year look-back" provision so that if someone appeared on one of the above watch lists within the last five years and purchases a gun, the FBI would be immediately notified.
The compromise is expected to come after the Senate votes Monday evening on four separate proposals that are all expected to fail.
One of the proposals was offered by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, after the shooting in San Bernardino last December. It would ban people who are on the government's no-fly list from being able to buy a gun. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, offered an alternative that he says would provide due process by allowing the government to delay a gun sale to a suspected terrorist for 72 hours, but it would require prosecutors to go to court to permanently block the sale.
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut, who launched a 15-hour talking filibuster last week to demand gun control action, offered a bill addressing background checks of prospective gun buyers and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, offered a competing bill that's less restrictive.
These developments on Capitol Hill come just over a week after the Orlando shooting that left 49 people dead and 53 wounded. The FBI had investigated the gunman, Omar Mateen, in 2013 and 2014 and interviewed him several times. He was still able to purchase and use in the shooting an AR-15-style rifle and a semi-automatic pistol.