Senate gun bill talks stall over definition of 'boyfriend,' distribution of 'red flag' incentives

Sen. John Cornyn
(Image credit: Tom Brenner/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The senators trying to finalize a bipartisan gun safety bill left Washington on Thursday, missing a self-imposed deadline to transform their landmark framework agreement into legislative text. "We're not ready to release any smoke," lead GOP negotiator Sen. John Cornyn (Texas) said as he walked out of two hours of closed-door negotiations with Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.). "I'm not frustrated, I'm done."

"I'm not as optimistic right now, but we're continuing to work," Cornyn said. "I'd say it's fish or cut bait," he added later. "I don't know what they have in mind, but I'm through talking."

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.