WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican leaders made clear Tuesday that Congress will take no action on gun legislation in the wake of the massacre in Las Vegas. They refused to entertain Democratic demands to expand background checks for gun purchases and tighten restrictions on semi-automatic weapons, but also shelved their own House bill that would have loosened access to gun silencers.
"I think it's premature to be discussing legislative solutions, if there are any," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters after the mass shooting that killed at least 59 people and wounded hundreds more.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said there is no plan for the House to act soon on the silencer bill, which a Republican-led House committee backed last month. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Jeff Duncan of South Carolina, said it would help hunters protect their hearing.
The silencer bill is "not scheduled right now. I don't know when it will be scheduled," Ryan said.
Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., said action on guns after Las Vegas was unnecessary, "We are not going to knee-jerk react to every situation."
Democrats pressed for a response.
Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., said on Twitter: "It's not 'political' to urge action to stop the regular killing of Americans by guns. It's responsibility. Silence is the political choice."
Airlines offer free travel for victims' families
DALLAS (AP) - Southwest Airlines and Allegiant Air say they are offering free flights to family members of people who were killed or injured in the Las Vegas shooting.
A Southwest spokeswoman said Tuesday that the offer was good for up to five family members. The airline will also help transport bodies of those killed, she said.
Allegiant Air spokeswoman Hilarie Grey said more than a dozen people had accepted the airline's offer, which was posted on Facebook, by midday Tuesday.
Both airlines said they were working with local hotels to provide lodging help for family members arriving from out of town.
Country star cancels tour dates after shooting
Country star Jason Aldean is cancelling three upcoming tour dates after a mass shooting at a country music festival in Las Vegas out of respect for the victims and to take time to mourn.
The singer was onstage Sunday when a gunman shot at the Route 91 Harvest festival. Aldean said in a statement Tuesday that this weekend's shows scheduled for Los Angeles, San Diego and Anaheim, California, would be cancelled and he would resume his tour on Oct. 12 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
"It has been an emotional time for everyone involved this week, so we plan to take some time to mourn the ones we have lost and be close with our family and friends," he said. He also issued a rallying cry for Americans to come together.