U.S. Senator Joe Manchin is one of four U.S. Senators working on a compromise plan that could potentially expand background checks for gun buyers.
Senator Manchin, a Democrat, is reportedly in talks with Republican Senator Tom Coburn from Oklahoma, Republican Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois and Democrat Senator Charles Schumer from New York on draft legislation.
Both Senator Manchin and Senator Coburn are members of the National Rifle Association and have “A” ratings from the group. The NRA gives both Senator Kirk and Senator Schumer, the third in the leadership line in the U.S. Senate, “F” ratings.
Right now, only guns sales to individuals from federally licensed gun dealers require background checks.
After the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, President Barack Obama proposed universal background checks as part of a larger gun control package.
All indications from Capitol Hill are that additional requirements for background checks for gun purchases have the best chance of getting approval from both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House.