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Senators seek deal on gun-sale background checks

By ALAN FRAM, Associated Press

Story Created: Feb 8, 2013 at 2:25 PM EDT

Story Updated: Feb 8, 2013 at 2:25 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) - A small, bipartisan group of senators is quietly trying to reach a compromise on expanding the requirement for background checks to cover nearly all gun purchases.

A deal could give political momentum to one of the key elements of President Barack Obama's gun-control plan.

The private talks involve Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, who is the No. 3 Senate Democratic leader, and West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, a National Rifle Association member and one of the Senate's more moderate Democrats.

On the Republican side, participants are Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, another NRA member and one of the more conservative lawmakers in Congress, and moderate Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois.

The NRA says expanding background checks would do little good because criminals largely get their guns illegally.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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