Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) has made his decision on gun control as the debate continues in Congress.
Manchin has went on record to state that he supports raising the minimum age to buy firearms fro m18 to 21 as well as a ban on AR-15 rifles, CNN reports.
Manchin told CNN, “I never thought I had a need for that type of a high-capacity automatic weapon. I like to shoot, I like to go out and hunt. I like to go out sports shooting. I do all of that. But I’ve never felt I needed something of that magnitude.”
CNN reported:
The comments from the Senate’s most conservative Democrat — who hails from a state with a strong gun culture — show growing Democratic support for imposing tough new gun laws as senators try to see whether there can be any compromise with Republicans to deal with episodes of gun violence ravaging communities nationwide. The position underscores how the two sides still have a number of major disagreements to resolve as they race to cut a deal this week amid public outcry over mass shootings nationwide.
Manchin is part of a small bipartisan group of Senate negotiators trying to finalize a deal on guns. The negotiators are not discussing some of President Joe Biden’s demands such as renewing the expired assault weapons ban, but they are looking at a handful of changes, including incentivizing states to enact red flag laws, which allow guns to be temporarily taken away from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others, expand background checks on gun purchases, bolster the mental health care system and beef up school security. There is also discussion about new regulations on gun trafficking between states and potential new legislation on storing weapons safely at gun owners’ residences.
Manchin does not hold as much power as he does in non-filibuster votes. With the filibuster, which would apply to pass gun control, Democrats would need to convince 10 Republicans in the Senate to meet the 60 vote threshold.
The 60 vote threshold is highly unlikely, but the Democrats will attempt to put pressure on Senate Republicans by passing a package, likely on a party line vote, through the House.
The 9th Circuit court of appeals has ruled, in a 2-1 ruling, that banning 18-20 year olds from purchasing firearms is unconstitutional.
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