Trump Approaching the Decision on Background Checks

President TrumpDonald John Trump5 Things to Watch in a Critical Race in North Carolina September 11th Souvenir: How Suicide Attacks Led to Two Wars Different Conservative Strategist Calls Steyer's Bid for 2020: A Vanity Race MORE is about to rule on a possible law on firearms reform, according to a group of senators involved in negotiations on background checks.

Meaning. Chris MurphyChristopher (Chris) Scott MurphyThe Morning's Morning – Trump Can It Save The GOP's Special Election In North Carolina? Democrats mock Trump's ego on guns Senators are waiting for White House staff to inform Trump of his possible gun control plan MORE (D-Conn.), Pat ToomeyPatrick (Pat) Joseph ToomeyNSA mistakenly collected US telephone records in October. New documents indicate that the night defense: the selection of the South Korean envoy splits Trump on the nuclear threat | McCain: explosions will suspend Korean military exercises | White House defends Trump's salvation from North Korean general WH on Trump's remark on the respect of the lawfulness of firearms MORE (R-Pa.) And Joe ManchinJoseph (Joe) ManchinL 'suburban anguish at the heart of GOP events on guns Democrats play at Trump's ego on guns Romney tells him that he is open to the project of Bipartite Background Check Act MORE (DW.Va.), who spoke with Trump for about 40 minutes on Wednesday, said they expected to know, as early as Thursday, whether Trump will be able to approve the reinforcement of background checks and other potential reforms of firearms.

"We hope to know from here tomorrow if there is something we can all agree on, and once we agree on something, we'll go stick to that, "Manchin told a group of reporters.

Murphy called the next 48 hours of "fierce hour" to find out if Trump and the three senators would be able to sign a background check deal following three mass shootings.

"I think we'll know soon, in one or two days, if the White House is really willing to introduce a substantial background check extension bill," Murphy said.

Toomey was more cautious, saying Thursday was the date discussed for Trump's "step forward" but that it was not "etched in stone".

Speaking to the White House, Trump told reporters that he was planning to re-talk Thursday with Manchin, Murphy and Toomey.

"We work very very hard together. And we will see if we can find something acceptable for all of us, "he said.

Trump added that they "were reviewing background checks" as part of a larger package.

"We are trying to put everything in place in a unified way to get something meaningful. At the same time, we all want to protect our great second amendment, "he said.

The phone call between the three senators and the president came after Trump met with Republican leaders at the White House on Tuesday, where, according to GOP lawmakers who attended the meeting, they discussed a firearms reform bill.

White House legislative affairs director Eric Ueland also attended the GOP luncheon.

Lawmakers said Trump's conversation with Senators was focused on expanding background checks to cover all commercial sales, as did the 2013 legislation of Manchin and Toomey.

"The basic idea is that you have a background check on commercial sales," said Toomey. "There is a whole range of possible improvements … it could be solved, but I think the heart of all of this is what we were talking about today, the idea of apply background checks to commercial sales. "

The push for new legislation comes after nearly 40 people were killed during a massive shootout in Odessa and El Paso, Texas, and in Dayton, Ohio.

The White House has discussed potential bills with lawmakers, while Democrats are calling on the GOP-controlled Senate to pass the gun reform measures already passed by the House, including one on background checks .

Republicans have been reluctant to pass a specific bill until they get an indication of what Trump will support. The Senate previously rejected bipartisan bills from Manchin and Toomey that would extend background checks to all commercial sales.

Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamL Urban Anxiety Sparks Commuters' Anger Bad weather forces Trump to abandon his trip to hurricane site in North Carolina Trump: peace talks with "dead" Taliban MORE (R-S.C.), A close ally of Trump, said Wednesday that he thought the president was interested in extending background checks.

"We have some problems but I think we're getting there," Graham told reporters.

Murphy, Manchin and Toomey stated that Trump remained open to the background check legislation, but did not expressly indicate that he would support one proposal or another.

"He has clearly expressed his interest in doing something meaningful and something that we would be able to accept and that could pass," Toomey told reporters.

Murphy said it was time for Trump to make decisions about what he would or would not support under a possible gun reform law.

In addition to background checks, Trump also talked about the mental health laws and the "red flag", which allow family members or law enforcement officials to temporarily prevent a person from entering the country. 39, buy a firearm.

"I think it's good news that the President is always personally involved, we had a long and extensive conversation, we went into the details for the first time," Murphy said.

If senators reach an agreement with Trump, it would be the best chance that Congress can pass a law on gun reform since the failure of the vote on Manchin-Toomey in 2013.

But Trump has not publicly pledged to support the legislation. It had previously been open to firearms reforms, including expanding background checks and a possible ban on assault weapons, after the shooting in Parkland, Florida, but only to turn the tide after the pressure from the Conservatives and the gun lobby.

Debate with Trump comes as Democrats urge Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellThe Hill & # 39; s 12:30 Report: Bolton as National Security Advisor Suburban worry pushes GOP on guns Democrats play on Trump's ego on firearms MORE (R-Ky.) On a bill on universal background checks, passed by the House of Commons. The bill provoked Trump's veto, and McConnell refused to introduce gun legislation that the White House did not support.

"Universal basically scares the bejeezus of some people because they think it's going beyond what it should achieve, commercial – nobody should be threatened by a commercial," Manchin said , recalling his message to Trump.

Murphy added that he was still considering an agreement on extending background checks to less than 50%, due to pressure from the gun lobby, but that he was "encouraged" ".

He added that he had told Trump that any deal would not trigger any vote, Republicans, and that becoming less universal would be a "heavy burden" for some Democrats.

A bill would require 60 votes to move to the Senate controlled by the GOP. Conservative Republicans and Progressive Democrats say it does not go far enough.

"We made it clear that if it was a compromise, it would be a real compromise," Murphy said. "In the end, there will be non-republican and non-democratic voices."

-Brett Samuels has contributed.