Gun Bill On Deck In The House

The House is set to pass the first gun control legislation in 13 years on Wednesday.

Sponsored by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.), the bill would strengthen the nation’s background check system for purchasing guns by giving states money to upgrade databases and penalizing states that do not comply.

The measure is expected to be considered under suspension Tuesday, an aide to House Democratic leadership confirmed. With the blessing of both the National Rifle Association and many powerful Democrats, it is expected to pass without difficulty.

"We are more than pleased," said George Burke, McCarthy’s spokesman. "We have been working on this for more than five years."

McCarthy’s husband was shot to death during a rampage on a Long Island commuter train in 1993.

She first introduced a version in 2002, but it failed to garner much support. And it was revived in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings in April.

Although gun rights groups were initially skeptical, powerful House Democrat John Dingell (D-Mich.) helped broker a compromise with the NRA that would allow citizens to petition to have their names removed from the federal database.

And since the measure is expected to be brought up under suspension, there will not be the opportunity to offer other potential gun-control amendments, a major concern for the NRA.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is expected to introduce an identical measure in the Senate.

Should the legislation become law, it would be the first federal gun control law since Congress passed the Federal Assault Weapons Ban in 1994.

 - Daniel W. Reilly