March 06, 2013

Manchin, Kirk Continue Bipartisan Negotiations on Criminal Background Checks

Senators Manchin and Kirk continue to work with colleagues to carefully tackle details of criminal background check

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill) issued a joint statement regarding Senator Chuck Schumer's current background check proposal:

“We are committed to continuing to work in a bipartisan effort with Senators Schumer, Coburn and others in order to find a commonsense solution for enhanced background checks, however, Senator Schumer's current proposal is one we cannot support as it stands today. Our goal is to pass a bill that will close loopholes in the current background check process in a way that does not burden law-abiding citizens. Any bill we support will guarantee that Americans’ Second Amendment rights are clearly protected. We simply want to make sure firearms do not end up in the hands of convicted criminals or people who are deemed mentally unstable by court ruling.

“While the bill Senator Schumer introduced today doesn’t meet this standard, we will continue to work with Senator Schumer, Senator Coburn and other colleagues to find a commonsense compromise.”

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