Members from both sides of the aisle were expressing optimism that some kind of gun control deal may come together in Congress.
by week's end, with Democrats cautioning against allowing talks to drag out.
One suggestion, for example, was an expansion of current federal background checks. But an aide to lead Republican negotiator John Cornyn, of Texas, cautioned the press that any changes to the law would not expand but rather strengthen the system for those already subject to a background check. "What I'm interested in is keeping guns out of the hands of those who, by current law, are not supposed to have them," Cornyn said. "People with mental health problems, people who have criminal records. Again, this is about the art of the possible. In order to deliver results, we have to build consensus, and the best way to do that is through targeted reforms.
Durbin said he wouldn't call Friday a "final deadline," but he signaled there would be little patience with anything too far beyond that. Sen. Richard Blumenthal speaks with reporters during a Students Demand Action event, near the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, June 6, 2022, in Washington.Negotiators have met at least four times during the weeklong recess that just ended, but aides told ABC News that a deal was far from ready. Paper has been exchanged behind the scenes with negotiators working to build consensus in the hope of unveiling a bill that can garner at least a filibuster-proof 60 to 70 votes in the Senate.