Murphy, Barr meet about gun control

After “a good discussion” with Attorney General William Barr, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy said it’s still up to President Donald Trump to make a decision on gun control legislation.

Murphy, D-Conn., met with Barr Wednesday along with U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., to discuss a plan to expand background checks on the sale of firearms. The meeting follows weeks of negotiation between the three senators and Trump.

Barr’s informal gun control proposal is said to be similar to the ManchinToomey bill that died in the Senate in 2013. His memo, “Idea for New Unlicensed-Commercial-Sale Background Checks,” is not officially endorsed by the White House.

“I’m up here just kicking around some ideas, getting perspectives so I can be in a better position to advise the president,” Barr told reporters at the Capitol. “But the president has made no decision yet.”

The Washington Post reported Wednesday that the National Rifle Association opposes the newplan drafted by Barr and the Justice Department.

Following a conversation on gun control last week, Trump indicated he was open to considering background checks, but Murphy expressed to the Senate that he did not think the president was completely committed and the NRA would try to sway him.

“The big questions are, will [Democrats] “move the goalposts” and, is this just a ploy to TAKE YOUR GUNS AWAY? I hope NOT on both counts, but I’ll be able to figure it out!” Trump tweeted Monday.

On Tuesday evening, Murphy, along with over 20 other senators, pressured their Republican colleagues to take action on background checks without approval from Trump.

“We’re down here on the floor tonight, begging our colleagues to put a bill on the floor,” he said. “Amend it. Debate it. Do whatever you want. We don’t have to wait for the president to tell us what to do.”

Amanda Blanco can be reached at ablanco@ courant.com.