House Republicans' gun bill delayed indefinitely

WASHINGTON, July 8 (UPI) -- A House Republicans-sponsored gun bill has been put off indefinitely as speaker Paul Ryan was unable to wrangle together sparring Republicans for support.

The bill was supposed to be part of a anti-terrorism package that House GOP members talked up and expected to vote on this week, but Ryan, R.-Wis., said he still couldn't find consensus on the legislation on Thursday.

"We're not going to rush it," Ryan said at a news conference. "We're going to get it right. And that's what we're working on with our members."

Democrats criticized Republicans for not being able to move on the bill and spent Thursday on the House floor reading the names of victims of gun violence and pushing once again for a bill that would expand background checks and block individuals on terror watch lists from buying a gun.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the bill the GOP is trying to put up for a vote -- the so-called Cornyn plan, that requires Justice Department agents to get a court to agree a person is a terrorist threat before blocking a gun purchase -- is a "toothless NRA bill that will do nothing to keep our communities safe."

Other Republicans said they think they will return to the bill and package new week, though no commitment has been made.