U.S. Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut says he is optimistic a deal can be reached with President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans on expanded background checks for gun purchases.
Murphy says he spoke to Trump last weekend, and believes while the president has come out against universal background checks, he could support expanded background checks for online and gun show purchases.
Murphy admits it’s still a hard sell to Senate Republicans.
“The only way we pass a bill in the Senate is if there is a proposal, words on a piece of paper, that the President says he’s for, and says it for more than 24 hours at a time”.
Murphy says his willingness to compromise should send a signal to his colleagues that he is serious. He also says he believes Republicans are coming under pressure from their constituents to do something.