US senator says gun control is ‘not likely’
US Republican Senator Pat Toomey says a recent push for gun control in the country is "not likely" in the wake of the massacre of nine African-American people at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
"Honestly, I don’t want to build up any false expectations, I’m not aware that we have the votes to do what Sen. [Joe] Manchin and I attempted," he said Wednesday.
He was referring to the move that narrowly failed to surmount a Senate filibuster in 2013.
The call, however, has been renewed after 21-year-old Dylann Roof opened fire and killed nine black people at the historic black church last week.
Toomey said the background checks have already been "accepted for so many years," but lamented the lack of support to "complete the process."
“Is it possible that some portion of that, some subset of what we were focused on is possible? Honestly, probably not likely,” said Toomey.
He went on to say that he thinks “background checks” is in a different category than “gun control.”
“But I think the fundamental idea is sound, and I intend to continue discussions with my colleagues to see if there might be some support for some way forward,” he added.
“Unfortunately, it became controversial to establish a procedure to broaden the background checks,” Toomey said. “I’m very disappointed. I think some people mischaracterized the legislation and that led others to oppose it, but look, I think it’s the right thing to do.”
Toomey said the vast majority of people already believe that the mentally ill and criminals should not possess guns, but the legislation still became "controversial."
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