Dem Sen Murphy: After Bump-Stock Ban, Universal Background Checks Are ‘Next Step’ in Gun Control

Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) admitted after a bump-stock ban was passed, universal background checks would be the “next step” for gun control. Partial transcript as follows: TAPPER: You said earlier that you would be willing to allow a clean bill in Congress that bans or regulates bump stocks without having a further — without requiring more broader gun control to be attached to the bill. Is universal background checks the next step, though? You said you would be willing to separate it. Is universal background checks, closing the so-called gun show loophole requiring background checks for private sales? Is that the next step for people in your philosophical camp and Senate? MURPHY: It should be the next step. In large part because it is the most popularly accepted change. And it has the biggest effect, what we know is that in states that have universal background checks, gun crimes are reduced by as much as 40 percent. And, you know, there is this fiction that the gun lobby tries to perpetuate that there are no laws that could stop evil-doers from perpetuating the kinds of crimes we saw in Las Vegas and that we