USA TODAY: Nearly four months after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary and two decades since President Clinton signed the last major gun-control law, the Senate is poised to take up a gun bill that would expand background checks, beef up a national criminal database and crack down on straw purchases of firearms.
The Senate first has to clear a 60-vote threshold to end a threatened filibuster by conservative Republicans, but that seemed more likely Wednesday after a bipartisan deal was announced to expand background checks for most commercial gun sales.
While he said he wished the Senate background check deal covered more transactions, President Obama said the deal brokered by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., represents “welcome and significant bipartisan progress.” … (more)
