Republican leaders of the U.S. Congress on Tuesday said they were focused on improving background checks for potential gun buyers, less than two weeks after 17 people were killed at a Florida high school by a teen with an AR-15 assault-style rifle.
The second-deadliest shooting at a U.S. public school has stirred the long-running U.S. debate over gun rights, prompting President Donald Trump to float potential responses, including arming teachers or raising the minimum age to buy firearms.
House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said lawmakers would focus on improving background checks for potential gun buyers. The No. 2 Senate Republican, John Cornyn, urged lawmakers to pass a bill to tighten the federal background check system.