Congress delays vote on gun silencers after Vegas massacre
October 03, 2017  23:17
image
The US Congress today shelved a controversial plan to make it easier to purchase gun silencers, as President Donald Trump signalled a future debate about the nation's gun laws was possible.

The announcement about the bill came days after the tragic shooting massacre in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"That bill is not scheduled now," House Speaker Paul Ryanreferring to a measure that also includes language making it more difficult to classify certain ammunition as "armor piercing."

"I don't know when it's going to be scheduled," Ryan added. "Right now we're focused on passing our budget."

Following the Las Vegas shooting, in which a retiree murdered 59 people and wounded more than 500 when he sprayed a festival crowd with gunfire, gun-control groups and several Democrats warned that the measure would only make it more difficult to locate such shooters.

The devices, also known as suppressors, do not eliminate gunshot noise entirely.

One of the bill's sponsors Republican Jeff Duncan, argues that reducing gun noise is a safety issue for hunters.
« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES