GOP Senator Says Gun Reform Bill Requiring Background Checks Could Get Bipartisan Support

Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) believes there could be a bipartisan agreement leading to the passage of gun reform legislation involving background checks, so long as it remains focused on commercial gun sales.

Toomey, in an interview with NBC anchor Chuck Todd on ‘Meet the Press, said lawmakers “need to … find a place where we can land, a place where there’s some common ground.”

“I have long believed, as I’ve told you many times, the place where we ought to be able to get that done is requiring background checks on commercial sales,” he said.

“You’re not going to get to 60 votes with legislation that requires a — when a father wants to sell his gun to his son to have to get a background check,” added Toomey.

“So, I still think the best way to do this is to focus on commercial sales.”

Sen. Murphy and Sen. Toomey discussed gun reforms, including if universal background checks for gun owners is a point of potential compromise between Democrats and Republicans. Plus, Rep. Chu spoke about why she thinks the Atlanta spa shootings should qualify as a hate crime. pic.twitter.com/501Vkxb5yx

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) March 28, 2021

RELATED: Democrats Reintroduce Bill Requiring Universal Background Checks On Private Gun Sales

Bipartisan Support For Gun Background Checks

Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) also suggested gun reform legislations featuring background checks could pass the Senate, but claimed it was due to Republican senators being tired of standing up for the Second Amendment.

“I’ve gotten a lot of calls from Republicans in the Senate who don’t want to fight this fight any longer,” Murphy claimed in a discussion with Todd.

“The [National Rifle Association’s] authority is fading. The anti-gun violence movement’s impact is increasing,” he added. “I think we have a chance.”

But Democrats want more than just commercial gun sales to be subject to background checks.

Murphy reintroduced The Background Check Expansion Act earlier this month, legislation that would expand federal background checks on all gun sales, including private transactions.

S. 42 states that the Act “prohibits a firearm transfer between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, or importer first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check.”

Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) say they believe that Congress will finally be able to pass legislation on expanded gun background checks. https://t.co/5u35cY6IYV

— Axios (@axios) March 28, 2021

RELATED: Republican Senator Pat Toomey Says Trump Committed Impeachable Acts

President Biden Pushing For Background Checks

Jen Psaki, White House press secretary for Joe Biden, has indicated the President won’t rule out using executive orders to enact stringent gun control measures including background checks on all gun sales.

“The president is somebody throughout his career who has advocated for smart gun safety measures,” Psaki told reporters last month. “He has not been afraid of standing up to the NRA.”

JUST IN: Pres. Biden: “I don’t need to wait another minute, let alone an hour…to urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to act” on gun reform measures. https://t.co/YnJgFCnfWJ pic.twitter.com/BbMhfNLHS4

— ABC News (@ABC) March 23, 2021

Biden reiterated that stance following two deadly shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, and Boulder, Colorado, indicating gun control must be implemented immediately.

“I don’t need to wait another minute, let alone an hour, to take commonsense steps that will save lives in the future and to urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to act,” Biden said.