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Sen. Toomey talks to Channel 11 about his push for stricter gun laws

PITTSBURGH — Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania) believes any plan to expand background checks for people buying guns will require vocal support from President Donald Trump.

In a one-on-one interview with Channel 11's Aaron Martin, the two-term senator expressed optimism that his bill with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) that would require background checks for most private-party firearm sales could get additional support after recent mass shootings.

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"We're trying to see if we can find a way to just do a better job screening out people who shouldn't have guns without putting an undo burden on law-abiding citizens," he said.

The bill was first introduced in 2013 in the aftermath of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

"It does feel like things are different. I don't know if that means if we'll get a major outcome," Toomey said.

In the past few years, Trump has gone back and forth over possible support for expanded background checks, but Toomey says he's been working with the White House and Manchin to find a solution.

"A lot of the time we've spent on the various ways we can do a better job limiting access to people who shouldn't have access to firearms. That's the centerpiece of my effort," he said.

Aaron Martin's interview with Toomey covered many other topics, as well. Watch the video below to see what the senator had to say about the recent deaths at a West Virginia veterans hospital, the use a FEMA funds and other topics.

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