A guide to the gun bills in Congress

Thousands of students across the nation are expected to walk out of class Wednesday to protest gun violence and call for action from elected leaders. Here’s a look at the main proposals under consideration in Congress.

Bills that seek to improve current systems:

• Fix NICS: bipartisan, led by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. This proposal aims to get more agencies to comply and send data to the current background check system, known as “NICS.” The Senate may vote on this next week.
• NICS Denial Notification Act: bipartisan, led by Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. Another fix-it plan, this requires that the FBI alert state officials when someone banned from buying a gun tries to do it anyway.
• STOP School Violence Act: bipartisan, led by several lawmakers from Florida. This four-page bill sets aside $50 million for grants to recognize and report potential school threats. The House plans to vote on this tomorrow.
• The School Safety and Mental Health Improvement Act: A Republican proposal to let schools use current federal funding to address more security and mental health needs.

Bills that change the system and propose new gun restrictions:

• Manchin-Toomey: bipartisan from Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. This revival of a 2013 proposal would require background checks at gun shows, for online purchases and in many person-to-person transactions. Sponsors are preparing to reintroduce it.
• Funding for state restraining orders: bipartisan, from Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Bill Nelson, D-Fla. This plan encourages states to adopt temporary restraining orders that block individuals considered a threat from buying or possessing a firearm.
• The Extreme Risk Protection Act: bipartisan, from Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. This bill goes farther than the Rubio bill, calling for the establishment of a federal gun restraining order system that could remove guns from those considered a threat.

Bills that change the system and expand gun rights:

• Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act: This House Republican proposal would allow any state concealed carry license to also be valid nationally.