Manchin, Toomey Meeting to Discuss Background Check Compromise

Amid the deadlock over universal background checks, Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) are developing a compromise that would strengthen the current background check system without expanding it to private sales.

No one knows for sure how the compromise would work as details of the plan have not been released at this time.

What is known is that a lack of universal background checks did not lead to the heinous crime at Sandy Hook Elementary. For this reason, it remains to be seen whether any broadening of the background check system will pass muster; Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) have pledged to filibuster any legislation that “will serve as a vehicle for additional gun restrictions.”

Manchin, Toomey, and other Senators are discussing the compromise right now during a luncheon, and we will update this post as more details emerge.

UPDATE: It is being reported that the Manchin/Toomey compromise centers on expanding background checks to include all sales at guns shows and forcing a background check on Internet sales. This would end secondary, private gun sales and gun transfers at gun shows–something moderates like Senator John McCain (R-AZ) have been seeking for some time. But it remains unclear how it would work with Internet sales, as those already require a background check.