The Kentucky Republican has objected to an attempt by Senate leadership to consider the national security measure on an expedited basis. His objections are not necessarily driven by ideological opposition to the bill, though he remains an outspoken critic. Instead Paul has dug in his heels because Senate Democrats have refused to consider several amendments that he wants offered, chief among them language that would restrict national security officials from examining gun dealer records in an effort to track potential terrorists

Gun safety groups had been frantically trying to draw attention to the amendment — which had gone largely under the radar — arguing that it would it would curtail the Department of Justice’s already limited authority to inspect the records of firearms licensees.