What to Expect in the U.S. Gun Debate—This Time

The school shooting in Parkland, Florida, that claimed 17 lives in February has reinvigorated the gun-control debate in Washington. Even President Donald Trump and some of his Republican Party allies in Congress, who normally find more common ground with the National Rifle Association, say they are open to considering some changes. After decades of stricter gun-control measures failing to gain traction in Washington, the advocacy of students who survived the Florida school shooting has renewed the debate around old ideas, such as improving background checks, and new ones, like arming teachers.

Existing law requires licensed gun sellers to check the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to see if someone is eligible to buy a gun. Federal and state agencies are supposed to report records, such as criminal convictions, to the database. But the system is full of holes, with millions of records missing, sometimes with deadly consequences. In 2017, it failed to stop the purchase of a semi-automatic rifle by a gunman who killed 26 churchgoers because the U.S. Air Force hadn’t reported his 2014 domestic-violence conviction. Congress is now considering the "Fix NICS Act," sponsored by senators in both parties, which would penalize federal agencies that fail to report information and create incentives for states to improve reporting. Trump has suggested he supports that change. But some pro-gun House lawmakers say they will only accept the bill if it allows concealed-carry permits issued by one state to be recognized in all 49 others.