The piece of legislation I chose to talk about is the Manchin-Toomey amendment. Senators Pat Toomey, a Republican from Pennsylvania and Tom Manchin, Democrat from West Virginia crossed party lines, as they say, and crafted a bill in 2013 called the Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act. The Senator’s say the bill will do three major things, according to Manchin’s website. One, it will expand the current background checks to include commercial sales, gun show sales and internet sales. Currently there are major gaps in these checks. For example, at a gun show you can purchase a gun from a non-dealer without a background check. Or, a gun purchased online that is shipped within that state is not required a full check. It will exempt sales between family, friends and neighbors. Second, the bill will create a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) that will strengthen the current checks and encourage all the states to enter their records into this system. This would ensure that one criminal from one state could not go to another state and buy a gun without knowing he/she has a prior record. Third, it would create a National Commission on Mass Violence to study in-depth all the causes for mass violence. What the bill won’t do is take away anyone’s second amendment right to bear arms, not take away any type of firearms, not restrict types of ammunition such as bullets or clips, and not create a national registry.
This gun control amendment came out of the public frustration of the many mass shootings taking place in the country. Given the climate of the country and their compassion for those that were affected by these horrendous acts, many pieces of legislation were quickly proposed at the time. (This problem stream was easy to pick up.) Some more or less restrictive than Manchin-Toomey. You would think this would be the perfect window of opportunity to get something passed. The Senator’s were attempting to impose additional restrictions on acquiring guns but at the same time not infringing on the rights the people are given within the second amendment. It sounds like it would appeal to both sides. A great balance and ultimate compromise for both parties. But, it failed. The reasons I see for the failure of the legislation was that other Senators were in fear of reelection if they favored such a bill. (Seen voting with the opposite party would surely be detrimental to their career.) Along with the strong gun culture among the more rural states. (NRA strong) But, it was close to success. Needing 60 votes, it got 54 in favor to 46 opposed and just fell short.
Unfortunately this bill is done. Giving an interview to the Washington Post shortly after the vote Senator Manchin said, “I did what I thought was the right thing for our country. I sought out a compromise position that I thought could move the ball forward on an important matter of public safety,” he said in a statement, adding later: “We have a lot of other very important issues to deal with such as getting the economy back on track, dealing with the debt ceiling and creating more jobs for Pennsylvanians.” (Blake, 2013)
In my opinion it was clearly the right time for this policy response. It seemed as if all the streams were lined up in perfect order. There was a problem, not just locally, but nationally. Children and citizens of the nation were being shot dead doing ordinary things : ie: going to school, shopping, seeing a movie. There were many legislators eager to find a solution and write the policy. (Almost every state adopted a new gun law the 12 months following the Sandy Hook incident.) But as usual our federal political system is baffling. They were not able to pass one piece of legislation that would make a difference to anyone.
Blake, A ( 2013 April 17) Manchin-Toomey gun amendment fails The Washington Post.com retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/04/17/manchin-toomey-gun-amendment-fails/
(2013 April 11) Manchin-Toomey Background Check Released (FULL TEXT) Huffington Post.com retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/11/manchin-toomey-background-checks-bill_n_3065100.html
Wagstaff, K (2013 April 17) Gun control: What doomed the Senate’s background check bill The Week.com retrieved from http://theweek.com/article/index/242882/gun-control-what-doomed-the-senates-background-check-bill
http://www.manchin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/gun-sense