But attempts at compromise on the amendment appeared to collapse Wednesday, underscoring the difficulty of resolving the divisive issue five months before Election Day. Feinstein, who had been involved in talks with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said there was no resolution on a potential compromise between her bill and a version he has offered that would let the government delay firearms sales to suspected terrorists for up to 72 hours. Prosecutors would have to persuade a judge to block the transaction permanently, a bar Democrats and gun control activists say is too high.