Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., predicted Wednesday that Congress would find a way to pass new gun legislation as long as Trump keeps leading the effort.
“The political reality is if the president gets behind something, it’ll give Republicans enough courage,” he said on MSNBC.
Trump has come out in favor of efforts to raise the minimum age for buying a rifle to 21, ensuring compliance with the federal background check system, and banning bump stocks.
But legislation has stalled in the Senate so far, as Democrats are looking to add more to the bill boosting federal background checks. At the same time, some Republicans are looking to add language to give people due process rights if they are suddenly banned from buying a gun.
Manchin said he supports language requiring universal background checks, and said he would be pitching his idea in a meeting with Trump today at the White House.
“Commercial transactions at gun shows or on the Internet have to be background checked,” he said. “It makes sense. It doesn’t take away anyone’s freedoms or rights.”
