On the eve of a Senate vote to authorize debate of new gun controls, two of the most conservative U.S. senators in the major parties announced Wednesday they worked out a proposal to expand background checks that they expect will get an actual up or down vote if debate is allowed.
Gun rights advocates immediately criticized the proposal while gun-control supporters praised it.
The proposal by U.S. Sens. Pat Toomey, a Pennsylvania Republican, and Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, would require background checks before sales at a gun show or online, but would continue to allow sales without checks between neighbors, friends and family.
"I'm a gun owner and the rights that are enshrined in the Second Amendment are very, very important to me personally as they are to people across Pennsylvania," Toomey said during a Capitol news conference televised on the C-Span cable network. "I've got to tell you candidly, I don't consider criminal background checks to be gun control. I think it's just common sense. If you pass a criminal background check, you get to buy a gun."
Toomey and Manchin said their proposal will reach the Senate floor as an amendment that will be the first considered if and when action on the bill begins. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to call for a vote today that would allow the gun-control debate just to proceed.
In a statement, the National Rifle Association denounced the deal between Toomey and Manchin.
"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," the statement said.
Only a "serious and meaningful solution" that addresses gangs and "a broken mental health system" will increase safety, according to the NRA.
Toomey and Manchin said they had consulted with the NRA, but did not comment on its opposition to their plan.
A group of more than 75 state House Republicans urged Toomey to reject all new gun-control measures but not everyone disliked the bipartisan plan fashioned by the two senators from neighboring states.
CeaseFirePA, a coalition of mayors, police chiefs, church leaders and community organizations, thanked Toomey for backing a proposal that takes "tangible steps in the fight against gun violence without infringing on the rights of law abiding gun owners."
Toomey acknowledged the fate of his and Manchin's proposal is far from certain.
"I don't know," he said. "I'm looking forward to the debate. I'm hopeful, but I think this is a fluid situation and it's hard to predict."
Toomey, who as a senator has focused on budgetary, tax and job-creation issues, said he got involved in the gun-control battle because "gun legislation appeared destined to reach the Senate floor" and because he felt other proposals could infringe on gun ownership rights.
The amendment would also create a commission to study why mass violence happens.