Posted on 04/10/2013 11:11:35 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) told reporters on a conference call moments ago that his compromise bill with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on gun background checks “doesn’t change in any way” his “conservative record or views.”
The former Club for Growth president acknowledged he was out of his usual legislative area on the issue, but “it became clear to me a bill of some sort was very likely to reach the floor” that would be “badly flawed,” so he reached out to his friend and neighboring state senator Manchin to sit down and talk.
“You’re probably used to hearing me talk about economic and fiscal and monetary policy,” Toomey said. “This is a somewhat unusual area for me to be working with.”
Toomey and Manchin unveiled their proposal at a press conference this morning, which extends background checks to gun shows and Internet sales but does not require record-keeping on private sales and does not extend to gifts, family or friend sales, etc.
“I thought there was an opportunity to try to find some common ground with some of my colleagues,” said Toomey on the conference call afterward. “Background checks are not a perfect solution… but they do help.”
“I think it strikes a very sensible balance,” he added.
The senators received assurance from Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) that theirs would be the first amendment should the Democrats’ package of gun bills move past the 60-vote threshold to consideration tomorrow.
The Manchin-Toomey amendment would strike the background check language in Reid’s bill — sweeping, universal checks — and insert the compromise language.
Toomey, who’s been under fire from conservatives for inking out a compromise, said he hasn’t “counted noses” to see what chance the language has of passing. He vowed to vote against any amendments to add language about high-capacity clips or the assault weapons ban to the bill, calling that a violation of Second Amendment rights.
“People are going to have a wide range of opinions,” he said. “I don’t think trying to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals is gun control… I don’t expect everyone to agree with me.”
The National Rifle Association, in a statement issued after the press conference, did not.
“Expanding background checks at gun shows will not prevent the next shooting, will not solve violent crime and will not keep our kids safe in schools. While the overwhelming rejection of President Obama and Mayor Bloomberg’s ‘universal’ background check agenda is a positive development, we have a broken mental health system that is not going to be fixed with more background checks at gun shows,” the NRA said.
“President Obama should be as committed to dealing with the gang problem that is tormenting honest people in his hometown as he is to blaming law-abiding gun owners for the acts of psychopathic murderers.”
Manchin and Toomey’s Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act would require states and the federal government to send all necessary records on criminals and the violently mentally ill to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
It prohibits the federal government from establishing a national firearms registry, and makes any person who misuses or illegally retains firearms records subject to up to 15 years in prison.
It allows dealers to voluntarily use the NICS database to run background checks on their prospective employees and provides a legal process for a veteran to contest his or her placement in NICS when there is no basis for barring the right to own a firearm. Last Congress, Senate Republicans failed to get language in the defense bill that would have stopped the Veterans Affairs Department from putting the names of vets deemed too mentally incompetent to handle their finances into the NICS to prohibit them from buying or owning a gun.
If a background check at a gun show does not result in a definitive response from NICS within 48 hours, the sale may proceed. After four years, when the NICS improvements are expected to be completed, Manchin and Toomey say the background check would clear in 24 hours. Current law is three business days. The bill requires the FBI to give priority to finalizing background checks at gun shows over checks at store front dealerships.
It also authorizes use of a state concealed carry permit instead of a background check when purchasing a firearm from a dealer.
ping
This is so stupid. It is a compromise between two traitorous people Toomey and Manchin no one else is involved!
Just to prove that democrats don’t have a monopoly on forked tongue, double talking snakes.
He is my senator. I learned the lesson of Specter. Rather have a democrat in office than someone like this...he has lost my vote.
Only in your own mind! Rino!
Gee dunno...it will at least give them pause to do it. It’s good incrementalism.
Step one like warning on cigarettes.
Now, where’s the bill that would re-instate the 2nd A Right for all of We the People in all the land (IE: Constitutional carry) and knock Fedzilla down a peg or two??
Let’s start there and see who upholds the ideals of their Oaths and the Constitution.
How about and ‘end all’ bill; like THIS iteration of immigration ‘reform’, where any bill in future that attempts to chip away our Rights is immediately removed from office, put on trial for treason and ruined financially if not put to death? Where’s the RICO charges against Congress??
FU Toomey.
You will not receive my vote again.
Just another professional pol full of sh*t and talking out of both sides of his face.
I emailed him that he was F%^$# in the next election cycle. Millions of firearm owners in PA as well as a million deer hunters are going to tell him to shove it . That means he will be eaten up by the Philly and Pittsburgh 47%ters.
Negotiating people's rights away a little at a time is not preferable to outright surrender, it's the same thing.
American politician. One step up from incarcerated pedophile.
That's all I need to hear to know Toomey is "compromised" as far as his 'Conservative Cred' goes.
I’m still steamed from the Clinton Administration - Gore blatantly broke Federal Elections Laws, campaigning from the White House, then skated because there was “no controlling legal authority.”
Given the nature of the DoJ and the Administration, you can put whatever laws you want into something to protect the people - but the Feds won’t enforce them against itself.
Toomey, you idiot, you don’t get to decide that. Your actions speak louder than your words.
Not really. At least the incarcerated pedophile is out of circulation. The politician is free to keep f**king us.
And people don’t keep voting for the incarcerated pedophile because he has the right letter next to his name.
Fupt
There is absolutely no reason to allow a bill to pass.
You are being duplication and disingenuous .
You are lying and cheating Americans
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