Senate Democrats expected to push for gun control measures on Thursday

Democrats in the U.S. Senate will begin a new push for gun control legislation on Thursday, according to the New York Times. The Democrats say they will block other bills in the chamber until their measures are put up to a vote in the Republican-controlled Senate.

The proposed legislation would expand background checks to include online firearms purchases and those from unlicensed dealers at gun shows. It would also close a loophole that has let thousands of people buy guns who might not have been able to do so had an F.B.I. background check been completed on time. Under existing law, the F.B.I. has three days to provide evidence that a gun sale should be prohibited. If there is any delay, the sale can be completed on the fourth day. That loophole allowed Dylann Roof to buy the gun he used to kill nine people at a black church in Charleston, S.C., in June, the F.B.I. said.

Another component would expand prohibitions on gun purchases to include abusive dating partners, individuals under a court-imposed restraining order and convicted stalkers. People convicted of domestic abuse are already barred from buying or owning a gun.

Democrats also want to expressly prohibit straw purchases and stiffen penalties for making false statements in connection with gun buying.