A bipartisan duo in the Senate is writing legislation to require that the military report domestic violence convictions to the national background check system.

Sens. Jeff Flake Jeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeJeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Republican former Michigan governor says he's voting for Biden Maybe they just don't like cowboys: The president is successful, some just don't like his style MORE (R-Ariz.) and Martin Heinrich Martin Trevor HeinrichSenate Democrats demand White House fire controversial head of public lands agency Senate Democrats seek removal of controversial public lands head after nomination withdrawal Five takeaways from final Senate Intel Russia report MORE (D-N.M.) said the legislation, if it had been been in place, could have prevented Devin Kelley, the identified shooter in the massacre at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, from getting a gun.

"We are often asked after a tragedy like this, 'Why can't you do anything to fix it?' We are looking at specifically something that had it been followed this person would not have been able to obtain a firearm," Flake said.

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Kelley received a “bad conduct” discharge from the Air Force after being court-martialed on a domestic violence charge.

His conviction should have been reported to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), and could have prevented him from purchasing a firearm legally.

But Air Force officials on Monday said the Holloman Air Force Base Office of Special Investigation did not enter Kelley’s information into the system.

Flake and Heinrich said it appears the military isn't currently reporting domestic assault charges because, they say, the Uniform Code of Military Justice only has a broader assault category and not specifically one for domestic assault.

"It's quite clear it's because they don't classify domestic assault as you do in state court. They only have a classification for assault, that's a broader classification. I think it's quite clear that they simply weren't sending those assault records through to the NICS," Flake said.

The senators said they found only one instance of the military reporting a domestic assault charge into the national background check system.

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A separate proposal, enacted in the 1990s, from the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) bans individuals convicted of misdemeanor domestic violences charges from owning or buying a gun.

"We have seen from the data that clearly the intent of the original Lautenberg amendment is not being implemented effectively," Heinrich said.

The press conference came after Flake caught criticism from Donald Trump Jr. over the legislation.

"Incredibly proactive considering that law has been on the books since the mid 90s," Trump Jr. said on Twitter, replying to an announcement from Flake that he was working on the legislation.

After Flake said the bill was aimed at closing a "loophole," Trump Jr. added: "Wrong. Govt employees, like you, failed to do their job. He did a year for abuse & fracturing his kids skull. Should not have had a gun!"

Wrong. Govt employees, like you, failed to do their job. He did a year for abuse & fracturing his kids skull. Should not have had a gun! https://t.co/olpA7Sgx0K — Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 7, 2017

Flake recently said he won't run for reelection next year. After the announcement, he gave a dramatic floor speech where he assailed President Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE and the changes he has brought to the Republican Party.

Senators are weighing their next steps in the wake of the shooting in Texas.

Sen. John Cornyn John CornynCalls grow for Biden to expand election map in final sprint Bipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death Chamber of Commerce endorses McSally for reelection MORE (R-Texas) said earlier Tuesday that he would introduce legislation aimed at bolstering information sharing with the national background check system.

Heinrich said he had a preliminary talk with Cornyn and will be sharing the language of their legislation.