http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/283675-gop-senator-to-offer-bill-to-block-terrorists-from-buying-gunsJune 15, 2016, 06:42 pm
GOP senator to offer bill to block terrorists from buying guns
By Jordan Carney
Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) will offer legislation Thursday to block suspected terrorists from buying guns, attempting to spark a compromise on the issue between Democrats and Republicans.
Toomey's legislation would require the attorney general to create a list of "likely terrorists." It would then be submitted to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which would review the list annually and remove any Americans inadvertently included, according to a summary of the forthcoming bill from his office.
The Pennsylvania Republican — who faces a tough reelection bid — noted that he's offering his proposal because he's hopeful he can break the Senate's current logjam.
"I have drafted legislation that takes the best features from both of the previous proposals, effectively preventing terrorists from being able to purchase guns, while also safeguarding the rights of innocent Americans who are mistakenly put on the list," he added in a statement.
Democrats took control of the Senate floor Wednesday, demanding a deal to block suspected terrorists from buying guns.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has filed an amendment to the Senate's Commerce, Justice and Science bill that would give the attorney general broad authority to block the sale of a gun if there is a "reasonable suspicion" that an individual has or will participate in a terrorist attack.
But Republicans argue the proposal would negatively impact Americans not tied to terrorism.
Instead, they've backed a measure from Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) that would have allowed the attorney general to delay suspected terrorists from getting a gun for up to 72 hours as they try to get a court to approve blocking the sale of the firearm.
Toomey — who previously backed Cornyn's proposal — said "neither of the proposals the Senate considered last year got that balance quite right. What's more, neither of them has sufficient support to gain passage today."
Toomey's proposal would also allow individuals who believe they have been wrongly placed on the list to challenge their inclusion in court.
Toomey took to the Senate floor Wednesday afternoon to urge his colleagues to find a compromise.
Democratic Senate candidate Katie McGinty, who wants to unseat Toomey, publicly pressured him during a press conference Tuesday to back Feinstein's measure. Democratic senators have latched onto the gun fight as they try to win back the majority in the upper chamber.
But Toomey's campaign defended his Senate record Tuesday, arguing that he's lead the Senate on "gun safety."
Toomey and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) spearheaded a 2013 proposal to strengthen gun background checks.
Republicans are defending 24 Senate seats in November, including a handful in states previously won by President Obama.
Democrats need to net four seats to win back the upper chamber if they also retain the White House, and five to win it back outright.
