Toomey remains hopeful for passage of gun control amendment
As the clock ticks toward this afternoon’s vote on his proposed gun control amendment, U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey remains optimistic the legislation will have the needed support.
During a mid-morning teleconference with the media, the Republican lawmaker indicated that while he had yet to garner the needed 60 votes, many of his fellow senators had not voiced their support or dissension.
“I remain hopeful,” he said. “We’ve picked up many endorsements including the Citizen’s Committee for the Right to Bear Arms and Independent Firearm Owners Association, the second biggest gun owner association in America.
“They read the bill and came to the conclusion that they should support it.”
Toomey added that the measure also has many dissenters, including fellow Republicans.
The Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act was crafted by Toomey and West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat.
In a 68-31 roll call procedural vote last week, the full Senate agreed to move the original gun-control bill – known as the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013 – and amendment forward.
Toomey, along with 15 GOP senators, 50 Democrats and 2 Independents supported the action while 2 Democrats and 29 Republicans offered no votes.
“(The amendment) is a commonsense effort to make it more difficult for criminals and the dangerous mentally ill to obtain a firearm,” said Toomey Wednesday. “It does nothing whatsoever to undermine Second Amendment Rights. In fact, there is a whole section that enhances the opportunity of law-abiding citizens to exercise their Second Amendment Rights.”
The amendment will expand the background checks, but only for Internet sales and those that make purchases at gun shows. Private transactions would not require checks.
The current legislation that calls for a federal registry of gun owners and sellers to track sales is not addressed in the Toomey/Manchin amendment.
The measure includes reciprocity for those permitted to carrying a weapon in one state and taking it into another, allowing gun dealers to conduct sales outside their residence state and protecting gun sellers from future prosecution should a person that underwent a background check later commit a crime with the purchased gun.
The Toomey/Manchin amendment calls for the improvement of the instant check system and creates a national commission to study the causes of mass violence in the U.S.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) has opposed both the legislation and the amendment.
A former staunch supporter and financial backer of the conservative senator, the NRA leadership has harshly criticized Toomey for supporting any legislation that would restrict gun ownership.
“The NRA is unequivocally opposed to the (Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013),” said Chris W. Cox, NRA Legislation Action executive director. “This includes the misguided compromise proposal drafted by Senators Joe Manchin, Pat Toomey and Chuck Schumer,” he said. “Expanding background checks at gun shows or elsewhere will not reduce violent crime or keep our kids safe in their schools.”
Toomey speculated that the naysayers to the amendment may not have read it or inaccurately comprehended its intent.
“Many outside groups have mischaracterized the legislation,” he said. “There have been many, wildly inaccurate attributes suggested about this bill that are simply not true. That’s why I am encouraging my colleagues and people on the outside to read it.”
While criticized for his “moderate” approach in the gun control matter, Toomey said that he has long been a supporter of background checks.
“I supported expanding background checks in 1999 and at the time, so did the NRA and a majority of the Republicans,” he said. “In fact, it was the Democrats that defeated the bill in the House (of Representatives).
“I’m doing this because I think it is the right thing to do.”
Toomey, meanwhile, said that he would continue to seek support until the 4 p.m. vote.
“I expect a close vote and we will only know the outcome after they gavel the vote to a close,” he said.