Mitt Romney is suggesting he may be supporting the Manchin-Toomey background check bill – once he reads it to find out what’s in it:
THE HILL – Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said Monday that he believes all commercial gun sales should be subject to a background check and signaled he’s open to supporting bipartisan legislation from Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).
“It certainly should be applied to commercial sales and finding a more comprehensive way to make sure that people are in the system that ought to be in the system,” Romney told reporters when asked about expanding background checks.
Asked if he would support legislation from Manchin and Toomey, which would expand gun background checks to all commercial sales, Romney said he had spoken with Toomey and was reviewing the bill.
“I’m looking at that. … Directionally, that is something I would support, but I have not read the legislation. That is something I would have to look at before I signed on,” Romney added.
The bill failed in 2013 and only had 2 Republicans votes: Susan Collins and Pat Toomey.
I think a big problem with the bill, other than overwhelming support by Democrats for it, was that Obama was president and Republicans like Ted Cruz were afraid that Obama’s DOJ would use the bill as an excuse to begin a federal registry. Cruz said the bill expands what is currently governed by the federal background system.
Romney isn’t completely on board yet, but I suspect he’ll back it. And what that may say about Senate Republicans on this is not good.