The 4 gun reform ideas getting attention now

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IDEAS ON GUNS
By Lisa Desjardins, @LisaDNews
Correspondent

In the past month, Americans saw three mass shootings in which seven or more people were killed. And all told, some 53 people died in mass shootings in the United States in August, according to The New York Times. (There are a variety of definitions for what qualifies as a mass shooting -- we dive into that more in this story by Gretchen Frazee.)

The shootings have sparked renewed attention on the issue of gun violence, and on what proposals actually address. We’ve detailed all of the gun proposals on the table in Congress here. Here is a brief look at four prominent ideas that have been floated in the past week and could potentially come before Congress in coming weeks. We’ve included what is known about President Donald Trump’s position, as congressional leaders indicate his opinion could be pivotal in putting a plan in action.

Red flag laws

Ideas: “Red flag” laws, also known as “Extreme Risk Protection Orders,” allow law enforcement officials to temporarily remove a firearm or block access to one from an individual who is giving them, or others, reason to believe they may use the weapons to harm other people. A number of leaders in Congress want to provide federal funding and other incentives to expand and encourage these laws in states, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. House Democrats are also working on one version of this next week (including in the House Judiciary Committee).

Recent news: A study released last month found that red flag laws in California had led to the disarming of 21 people who had made threats about possible mass or public shootings.

Where Trump stands: He’s indicated he generally supports this concept, which is one reason it’s seen as the most likely choice if Congress votes on any gun legislation this fall.

Background checks

Ideas: Proposals in this area generally expand required background checks to include gun shows, internet and private sales. “Universal” background check bills, including the House-passed “Bipartisan Background Checks” Act, would extend those checks to nearly all gun sales, except to close family members. Other versions, like the Manchin-Toomey proposal written by two U.S. senators, would also exempt sales to friends.

Recent news: The Associated Press, citing an anonymous law enforcement official, reported Tuesday that the gun used in Odessa, Texas, was purchased in a private sale, where no background check was required, by a man who previously had failed a background check.

Where Trump stands: He’s been both warm and cool to changing background check laws. In his most recent statement on the idea on Sunday, he expressed skepticism that expanding background checks would make a difference in shootings.

High-capacity magazine and semi-automatic assault weapon bans

Ideas: These proposals are aimed at limiting or blocking sales of firearms and ammunition magazines that are capable of killing large numbers of people quickly. Democrats in the House of Representatives plan to start work next week on a bill to ban high-capacity magazines.

Recent news: The gun used in Odessa, Texas, was a semi-automatic, or “AR” style weapon. In Dayton, Ohio, the shooter used an AR-15 pistol, with a magazine capable of holding 100 bullets. Finally, in El Paso, the weapon was an AK-47 or similar rifle.

Where Trump stands: He’s said he does not think there is a “political appetite” for bans on assault-style guns.

Mandatory buy-back of semi-automatic assault weapons

Ideas: Following the shooting in El Paso, Texas, the area’s former congressman and current presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke announced his proposal for a mandatory federal buy-back of assault-style guns. If owners of those weapons did not turn them in, O’Rourke would fine them. Former presidential candidate and California Rep. Eric Swalwell raised the idea more than a year ago.

Recent news: As we mentioned above, semi-automatic weapons have been used in many of the nation’s deadliest shootings. At the same time, conservatives have pointed out that bans or buy-backs raise difficult issues of how you define these weapons. They argue limits would likely block many of the most common hunting and sporting guns.

Where Trump stands: Also as above, Trump has voiced hesitancy to ban future sales of these weapons, indicating he may be even less inclined to support a mandatory government taking of those currently owned. On the campaign trail, Trump has repeatedly criticized Democrats as “wanting to take guns” away from Americans.

AUGUST POLICY ROLLOUTS FROM THE 2020 FIELD
By Alexandra D’Elia, @Alex_DElia11
Politics production assistant

August is usually a quiet month for politics, but it was a busy time for the 2020 race, as candidates descended on the Iowa State Fair, the Democratic field shrunk by four and Republican former Rep. Joe Walsh launched a primary challenge against Trump.

September brings the next Democratic debate, and just half of the remaining 20 candidates will be on that stage. From four of the Democrats who made the cut, here’s a taste of some of the proposals they debuted in August.

Pete Buttigieg on rural issues
The mayor of South Bend, Indiana, rolled out two policy proposals ahead of the Iowa State Fair aimed at helping rural voters. Buttigieg unveiled a rural health care plan that would create a “Medicare for All Who Want It” plan and address issues of maternal mortality and drug addiction -- partly by requiring insurance companies to ensure mental health care coverage as they do for other medical care. Buttigieg built on that plan with a proposal to address rural economic concerns, including the expansion of rural high-speed broadband, job opportunities for immigrants in rural communities (and a “community renewal” visa program), apprenticeships and small-scale manufacturing, and more.

Bernie Sanders on climate
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., rolled out a sweeping Green New Deal proposal with the hefty price tag of $16.3 trillion. His plan aims to achieve “100 percent sustainable energy for electricity and transportation by no later than 2030 and to fully decarbonize the economy by at least 2050.” Some initiatives included in the plan are to invest $607 billion in a regional high-speed rail system; $34.85 billion to repair the country’s water systems through the WATER Act (a bill that the senator has introduced in Congress); and $162 billion for coastal communities to adapt to sea level rise. The plan would cost more than climate plans proposed by other candidates, such as Beto O’Rourke ($5 trillion); Sen. Elizabeth Warren ($2 trillion); and former Vice President Joe Biden ($1.7 trillion).

Amy Klobuchar on domestic terrorism and hate crimes
Following the back-to-back mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., unveiled her plan to combat hate and domestic terrorism. As Hennepin County Attorney in Minnesota, Klobuchar prosecuted hate crimes. As president, she says she would prioritize combating domestic terrorism by increasing training and resources, make lynching a federal hate crime, and direct the Justice and Commerce Departments to assess and combat the spread of hate.

Beto O’Rourke on trade
The former Texas representative unveiled his “Trade for America” plan in response to the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China. As president, O’Rourke says he would eliminate tariffs on Chinese products and expects that China would revoke its retaliatory tariffs in return. O’Rourke would also work to reform the World Trade Organization on issues of currency manipulation, competition, labor standards and trade. By creating an independent Trade Enforcement Commission, violations of labor and environmental standards would be identified and prosecuted. O’Rourke would also invest in American manufacturers and training programs.

FIVE OVERLOOKED POLITICAL STORIES FROM THE PAST WEEK
By Alexandra D’Elia

Video, reports of machines automatically changing votes in Mississippi GOP Governor runoff -- Aug. 28. A machine glitch confirmed that at least three times in Mississippi, voters’ selections were changed in the state’s Republican gubernatorial primary runoff. Why it matters: State and local election boards continue to face questions about machinery and security ahead of the 2020 elections. -- USA Today

O'Rourke visits Bland — the county in Virginia that voted strongest for Trump -- Aug. 30. In a swing through southwestern and central Virginia, presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke visited the county that voted most heavily for Trump in 2016. Why it matters: O’Rourke’s visit through red parts of the Super Tuesday state highlights the Democratic Party’s desire to win over more Trump voters in 2020. -- The Roanoke Times

The Health 202: Indiana is trying a gentler approach to Medicaid work requirements -- Sept. 3. It is estimated that only 70,000 of the 1.4 million Hoosiers who receive benefits under Medicaid will be impacted by the state’s imposition of work requirements. Why it matters: The state is proving to be a case study in implementing work requirements under the Affordable Care Act, and, so far, officials there have not faced any legal pushback. -- The Washington Post

‘I am on my way to being very well,’ Justice Ginsburg tells thousands of fans -- Aug. 31. The liberal justice affirmed to a crowd that, after being treated for pancreatic cancer, she is alive and well. Why it matters: Ginsburg is a pillar in maintaining the current liberal-conservative balance on the bench. -- The New York Times

5 years in, Washington considers overhaul of pot regulation -- Aug. 27. Officials who oversee Washington state’s legal marijuana industry are pushing for sweeping reform, including home delivery of medical cannabis and incentives to increase minority ownership of cannabis-related businesses. Why it matters: The Evergreen State pioneered legalization of marijuana and now, five years later, may presage the next national debates and pushes ahead for the industry. -- The Seattle Times

#POLITICSTRIVIA
By Kate Grumke, @KGrumke
Politics producer

On this day in 1838, a famous abolitionist, author, journalist and political advocate escaped from slavery. He went on to write a book about his life, advise President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and serve as U.S. Marshal of the District of Columbia.

Our question: Which statesman are we describing?

Send your answers to [email protected] or tweet using #PoliticsTrivia. The first correct answers will earn a shout-out next week.

Last week, we asked: At what level of annual income did the first peacetime income tax kick in?

The answer: Income over $4,000

Congratulations to everyone who answered this difficult question. And our apology to the still-undetermined winner! Due to an email issue here at NewsHour, we are still processing your responses. Next week we hope to have two weeks’ worth of winners.

Thank you all for reading and watching. We’ll drop into your Inbox next week.