CNN "The Lead With Jake Tapper" - Transcript "Interview with Sen. Pat Toomey"

Interview

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Joining me now is Republican Senator Pat Toomey from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, who yesterday announced a bipartisan proposal for expanding background checks, along with Democratic Senator Joe Manchin.

Senator, thanks so much for joining us.

So, you just heard Kaitlan Collins report there, a source telling CNN that the majority leader, McConnell, has no interest in moving that House bill that expands background checks, since it lacks support from the president and sufficient Republicans in the Senate.

How is the Manchin-Toomey -- or, should I say, Toomey-Manchin bill, on expanding background checks, how is that different from the House version?

SEN. PAT TOOMEY (R-PA): Well, Jake, one of the main differences is that we're going after commercial gun sales.

So we think that there should be a background check for all commercial gun sales. But a private transaction between family members or friends, we would not require a background check for those kinds of transactions. The House bill is much broader, and it's virtually universal, with very few exceptions, is my understanding.

TAPPER: You and Senator Manchin were on this show pushing a similar bill on the floor of the Senate back in 2013 after the tragedy of Newtown. It did not pass.

You and Senator Susan Collins I believe are the only Republicans who voted for it back in 2013 who are still in the U.S. Senate. Do you think it can pass now? Do you think you can get more Republicans?

TOOMEY: Jake, I hope we can. And I hope it can pass.

You know, it's true Susan and I are the only two Republican senators remaining who voted for it. But I think that the sentiment has changed somewhat. And maybe it is just the accumulation of pain from all of these horrific experiences.

The president is open to this conversation. I have spoken with him several times in the last 24 hours. I have spoken to Leader McConnell. As usual, Mitch McConnell wants an actual outcome, not political grandstanding.

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And to get an actual outcome, there needs to be bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress. And that is what Joe Manchin and I are focused on. That is what I discussed with the president today and yesterday.

And that's what I'm hoping we can get to.

TAPPER: Did the president say that if your legislation passes the Senate that he will sign it?

TOOMEY: No, he didn't say that. And I didn't ask him that.

And I think he's still asking questions about the substance and how we get there, what other things might be included. For instance, I think there is broad support for red flags legislation. Senator Graham, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I believe, intends to bring up such legislation.

You know, Jake, this is the legislation that would allow family and law enforcement when they discover somebody who is exhibiting dangerous and violent proclivities to bring that to the attention of a court and, if the court agrees, then to take the firearms and prevent that person from buying other firearms. That has broad support.

I think that is likely to move out of Judiciary and be able to pass on the full Senate floor. I also think my bill with Chris Coons, which would require the FBI to notify states when someone attempts to buy a firearm who is not legally entitled to by virtue of past criminal record, that is legislation that could pass.

And my hope is that we can include in that broadening the background checks, because I think we should have background checks for commercial sales.

TAPPER: Why do you think so many of your Republican Senate colleagues are so reluctant to support even a modest measure like this who -- that is supported by two people who -- before you supported this bill in 2013, you and Senator Manchin enjoyed -- I think you both had A's from the NRA.

TOOMEY: Yes, we did.

TAPPER: Is it because they're -- is it because you're afraid of losing -- not you, but are they afraid of losing an election? Are they afraid of the heat?

You and Manchin have shown you can support something like this and get reelected. What is holding them back?

TOOMEY: Yes, you can get reelected. There is a lot of heat, I assure you, as well.

There are a lot of folks who are concerned about a slippery slope, whereby first it is extending background checks and later maybe something else that -- so for me as a Second Amendment supporter, a gun owner, someone who believes in the Second Amendment, I don't think a background check is an infringement on the Second Amendment rights of a law-abiding citizen. I don't think it is.

I wouldn't support legislation that does infringe on that right because I think it is an important constitutional right. Some of my colleagues I think might be concerned that there is a slippery slope argument. I don't agree with that.

But we haven't had a vote in a number of years, and I'm hoping that we will be able to persuade some folks. There are a lot of new senators who weren't here the last time we voted on Manchin-Toomey. So we are going to have another chance, I think, and I hope soon.

TAPPER: All right, Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey, thank you so much, sir. Always good to see you. Please come back.

As this battle heats up, we want to hear from you and Senator Manchin. TOOMEY: Thanks for having me.

TAPPER: New details just emerged about what else Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell does not plan to do about gun legislation.

Stay with us.

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