After the fiasco in the Senate, House Republicans are fully aware that they need to pass a full-fledged measure on gun control, reports TIME Congressional correspondent Jay Carney. At the same time they do not want to unduly antagonize those in core constituencies who object to stringent gun curbs. "Many Congress-watchers believe House leaders are trying to concede while saving face," says Carney, "Republicans do not want to appear as if they are being railroaded by Democrats." The risk is that they may give their opponents still more ammunition. "The vote to put off the measure gives Democrats an issue to take into the Memorial Day break," says TIME White House correspondent Karen Tumulty. This is exactly the kind of opening Democrats managed to exploit successfully against Senate Republicans last week.
The Battle Over Guns Slows Down in the House
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The all-out battle that erupted in the Senate over gun control has been turned into something of a guerrilla war in the House. After indicating support Tuesday for the general outlines of the new Senate restrictions on guns, House Republican leaders on Wednesday moved to slow down a Democratic move to immediately pass those restrictions. By a 19 to 13 vote, the House Judiciary Committee shot down a Democratic attempt to force a vote on the gun measures this week, opting instead to study the proposals first and aim for a vote in mid-July. Democrats accused the GOP of holding the proposals hostage to NRA demands for watered-down regulations.