There is no more time for delay. To underscore his sense of urgency, Clinton invited Veronica McQueen to the White House for a private visit. Sen. Hatch, the GOP point man on gun control legislation, emerged from Tuesday's meeting at the White House pessimistic. Despite White House prodding, the conference committee has not met since August. Hatch also cited the Second Amendment's guarantee to bear arms.
Differences remain, however, over how to regulate handgun sales at traveling gun shows.
The House endorsed a one-day waiting period at gun shows. On Capitol Hill, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, said Congress should proceed with the juvenile justice bill and gun control provisions that have broad support, such as a requirement for child safety locks and a ban on sales to people with juvenile records. Lott said it was unfortunate that Clinton did not want House Democrats to vote for a bill that contained those provisions but lacked the gun show check law. President Clinton said he is open to a compromise on the gun show language. However, even with last week's shootings and renewed presidential pressure, there is no sign of such a compromise happening yet with election-year politics clouding Congress' agenda.