Senate gun group eyes finish line as 'boyfriend loophole' remains a big hurdle
The four U.S. senators leading negotiations on a gun deal met for hours in a Senate basement Thursday in pursuit of a final agreement, but emerged with one
WASHINGTON — The four U.S. senators leading negotiations on a gun deal met for hours in a Senate basement Thursday in pursuit of a final agreement, but emerged with one major unresolved issue.
The meeting among Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., did not yield a resolution on how to close the "boyfriend loophole" involving gun rights for abusive partners.
As they craft the federal language, the group is looking at “state statutes” that currently prohibit dating partners convicted of abuse from possessing guns, said Tillis, without elaborating on which states. More than 33 states have already taken steps to close or address the boyfriend loophole.
Senate negotiators for gun laws hit complications over red flag grants, 'boyfriend loophole'June 15, 202202:32“There’s pretty well-developed law around what a dating partner is already,” Murphy told reporters when he emerged from the meeting. “I hope that the definition is there for the taking.”
GOP negotiators appeared to be getting impatient on the issue.
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