Congress May Take Some Steps on Guns, But Still Fears the NRA
- GOP lawmakers show reluctance to buck the gun lobby’s position
- Trump and Republican lawmakers considering limited changes
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Dramatic testimony from survivors of a deadly shooting at a Florida high school may spark the first changes in the nation’s gun laws in a decade, but Congress is unlikely to embrace sweeping new regulations on firearms.
President Donald Trump and some Republican lawmakers have indicated a willingness to consider tightening the existing background check system for gun buyers, raising the age limit for buying military-style semiautomatic rifles to 21 from 18, and encouraging states to adopt “red flag” laws that would allow authorities to take weapons from individuals deemed a threat.