CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of Congress returned to Washington, D.C., this week, and lawmakers are using some of their time to continue discussions on possible gun legislation.
Talks among legislators began in early August following mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio.
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., is among the senators involved; he and Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey are pitching their proposal to expand background checks to online transactions and gun show purchases.
Manchin said on Friday’s MetroNews “Talkline” that President Donald Trump is not only engaged in the discussions, but he has reached out to Manchin about possible legislation.
“I appreciate that very much because I’ve said, ‘Mr. President, this thing doesn’t work without you,'” he said. “He is very much engaged, and I’ve had more conversations in the last week and more meetings than I’ve had with him in a long, long time.”
Manchin noted some of Trump’s staff is resisting legislation, but the senator pointed out polls that show Americans are in favor of legislative change.
This is despite, according to Manchin, the lack of Republican lawmakers wanting to engage in discussions.
“(Trump is) looking at everything, so I’m very much encouraged that he’s extremely engaged,” he said. “He’s not just idly sitting back saying, ‘OK, do whatever.’ That’s not him at all.”
Manchin said Trump has voiced support for multiple proposals, including one from South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham and Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal to encourage states to adopt “red flag” laws.
“If the president wants to do an omnibus package, there’s a lot of good things that have been vetted out there that makes sense that does not threaten any gun owner in any way, shape or form,” he said.
During the congressional recess in August, Manchin’s staff spoke with the offices of Toomey, Sens. Chris Coons, D-Del., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., about a legislative proposal.