Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) said Wednesday that they cannot support a universal background check bill drafted by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) but promised in a statement to continue with bipartisan talks on the issue. The statement comes as talks between Schumer and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) fell apart. Schumer intends to proceed with his own version of the bill that excludes input from Kirk and Manchin.
“We are committed to continuing to work in a bipartisan effort with Senators Schumer, Coburn and others in order to find a commonsense solution for enhanced background checks, however, Senator Schumer’s current proposal is one we cannot support as it stands today,” Kirk and Manchin said in the statement. “While the bill Senator Schumer introduced today doesn’t meet this standard, we will continue to work with Senator Schumer, Senator Coburn and other colleagues to find a commonsense compromise.”