On Thursday, senators mustered more than the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster and begin debate on gun legislation. Next week, the Senate may vote on a bipartisan deal hashed out by Democrat Joe Manchin and Republican Pat Toomey. Their amendment would require background checks on purchases from unlicensed dealers at gun shows and on all online gun sales.
Sen. Rob Portman initially voted against opening debate on gun legislation, saying he disagreed with the underlying bill. He is still looking through the bipartisan amendment and hasn’t come to a decision on it.
Portman told reporters in a conference call Thursday that he could support other measures, such as one barring gun purchases by people whom a court has ruled have serious mental illness.
PORTMAN: “It expands the mental health reporting, so it does expand background checks. It tightens up the background checks for mental health.”
Sen. Sherrod Brown says that he expects some legislation that expands background checks to pass. He says he'd like to see more done -- such as a ban on assault-style weapons or high-capacity magazines -- but he admits that may not be possible to achieve.
BROWN: “I’m confident we’ll get a bill -- at least a step -- on background checks. Beyond that, it’s anybody’s guess, still.”
Brown says the question on his mind is whether the amendment stands a chance in the House.
