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.
Guess again, Pat.
Apparently Toomey is feeling the heat on his Facebook page... apparently he’s getting smoked over there. That would explain the frantic explanantion-fest.
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.”................
Actually the people that you represent get to decide if this changes your conservative record. IT DOES!
And by doing so, Senator Dumbass, you've placed yourself in the position of being a tool for Satan's party, while bargaining away the 2nd Amendment rights of those who had such hopes that you'd properly represent them.
His office lines are going straight to voicemail. Left my name and number with a message I voted for him, I am not happy about his backing this legislation and I will be voting for his competitor as he will NOT be getting my vote for senator, or anything for that matter, again.
“I don’t consider criminal background checks to be gun control,”
Yeah, and amnesty is not really amnesty, right, Senator?
Yet another RINO.
He got a nasty e-mail from this person. All here - hit him hard.
Yet another traitor to the oath he took.
““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.””
But the democrats are not tring to keep guns out of the hands of “dangerous criminals”.
“Dangerous criminals” Steal their guns or otherwise obtain them illegally to help remove any record.
Democrats are simply trying to criminalized & abridge the right to keep and bare arms.
I’ve already called Pat’s Scranton office, and the gentleman couldn’t explain how this “deal” would have prevented a single killing in America, let alone Sandy Hook. Bob
pat forgot to mention that his little gun control bill allows a shrink to add you to the NICS no gun list at will and no requirement to notify you. That and the fact that private sales at gunshows will now require a background check. Other than those two little jewels nothing will change.
Of course, Toomey’s deal with the devil is that the democrat’s bill gets to the floor—no filibuster. Then the rats just force party discipline and pass a terrible bill. We have a small enough majority in the house that I am very concerned.
Toomey and his collaborators claim, “well, we voted against the democrats bill!” But they made sure it made it to the floor.
Our R’s in Washington are seeming especially spineless on this one.
Too bad tap dancing has fallen out of style.
There are about 600 amateurs at the top of the federal government who do it every chance they get.
Don’t bet on it. Come election time, we’ll see what gets changed.
The fundamental question is whether the people are subjects of a government with absolute power or free Americans who may choose whether to give their consent for each government action. If DC does not govern with our consent, then we are stepping into a new phase in America’s history, and it will not be a pretty one.
The GOPe is not long for this world
If you take that vote, Toomey, you have no credibility as an American!
I have no answer to that question other than put people in office who have integrity and take their Constitutional oaths seriously, and by doing so, uphold those righteous and Constitutional laws. Bad people make bad laws and ignore laws that infringe on their powers.
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” John Adams
Calling Club for Growth. Are you still claiming him as one of your shining examples of membership?
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