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April 11, 2013

Senate to Hold First Gun-Control Vote After Compromise on Background Checks 
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The Senate is holding a vote today on whether to take up the gun-control
package that materialized in response to the shooting massacre in
Newtown, Connecticut. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced the
vote after a number of Republicans backed down on vows of a filibuster.
On Wednesday, Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia and
Republican Senator Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania unveiled their
compromise on one of the bill's remaining provisions to expand
background checks. The Manchin-Toomey amendment would expand background
checks to all commercial gun sales but exclude gifts and transfers
between relatives. Speaking to reporters, Manchin and Toomey said their
compromise will help the bill's chances.

Sen. Joe Manchin: "Today is just the start of a healthy debate that must
end with the Senate and House hopefully passing these commonsense
measures and the president signing it into law."

Sen. Pat Toomey: "What matters to me is doing the right thing, and I
think this is the right thing. And I think most Pennsylvanians will
agree that making it more difficult for criminals and mentally ill
people to obtain guns is the right thing to do. Securing the rights of
law-abiding citizens is also the right thing to do. So that's what's
most important to me."

The gun-control package excludes a number of critical measures,
including an assault weapons ban, though it will likely come up as an
amendment.

 

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