Largely signals a significant degree of backing off by the Administration for lack of legal grounds, available resources, and most especially political capital.
“It was all focusing on enforcing existing law, administering things like improving the background database, things like that that do not involve a change in the law but enforcing and making sure that the present law is administered as well as possible,” said Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.).
It all indicates an attempt to lower the expectations of the anti-gun lobby and political base.