NRA, Democrats agree on gun measure

WASHINGTON, June 9 (UPI) -- The National Rifle Association and Democratic legislators have agreed on a proposal to improve the U.S. system of background checks for gun purchases.

The proposal was inspired by the massacre at Virginia Tech, The Washington Post reported. The gunman, Cho Seung-hui, was able to purchase weapons and ammunition legally even though he had been ordered by a court to submit to a psychiatric examination because Virginia did not submit his name to a federal database.

The legislation would give states financial incentives to provide information to the federal National Instant Check System. There would also be penalties for failing to act.

During the negotiations, Democrats agreed to meet NRA demands for language that would allow military veterans included in the database by the Defense Department an opportunity to challenge their listing and to allow people with records of minor crimes to be expunged.

If the plan becomes law, it would be the first significant federal gun-control measure since the Republicans took control of Congress in 1994.