Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.), left, and Patrick J. Toomey (R-Pa.) speak to reporters about background checks for gun purchases at the U.S. Capitol on April 10, 2013, in Washington. “It does feel like we have a shot at getting a little bit of momentum on background checks,” Toomey said in an interview with The Washington Post, after the long holiday weekend when he spoke by phone with several senators. That legislation, which expanded background checks to include unlicensed gun-show dealers and online sales, failed to move forward. “I haven’t spoken with President Trump,” Toomey said, but he said he is hoping to at some point soon. Among those on stage, only Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) spoke up and touted the Manchin-Toomey legislation as “another bipartisan bill that would strengthen background checks.

Source: Washington Post February 20, 2018 22:42 UTC