Senators Manchin and Toomey on the possible political challenge after their gun bill on background checks.
Senators Manchin and Toomey draw NRA fire over their bipartisan Senate bill on background checks for gun purchases.
Sen. Toomey: "I think this debate in some ways is underscoring just the extent to which there is a polarization in our society, a political polarization, the acrimony that has gotten into politics is manifesting itself in this debate. And I think that's unfortunate."
Sen. Manchin: "What we're seeing is, is same as we're seeing in the political arena, whether you're Democrat or Republican, whether you're elected or you're running for an office, they're getting caught by different other extreme groups, really extreme groups who are putting out falsehoods and just outright lies that are not even addressed in this bill."
Sen. John McCain says he's "very favorably disposed" to support the Manchin-Toomey gun bill on background checks.
"I'm very favorably disposed. But first of all, I would like to thank Pat and Joe for their work together. We need to do a lot more of that. And I'm very favorably disposed towards that. Eighty percent of the American people want to see a better background check procedure. The Internet aspect of it, which I need more explanations - greater explanation of, but, look, I appreciate their work. "
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) says he won’t join a Republican filibuster on gun legislation if it includes a mandate extending background checks to gun sales between two individuals.
Dan Malloy, Haley Barbour, Gwen Ifill, and Jackie Calmes break down the V.P.'s town hall advice to women on self-defense.
Steven LaTourette, Ron Klain, Jeff Zeleny and Dana Bash discuss gun violence in movies and gridlock in congress.
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper on the "culture of violence" and gun safety: "certainly the culture of violence - and look at the level of violence in our media, video games, the depiction of these assault weapons again and again, there might well be some direct connection between people who have mental instability, and when they go over the edge they transpose themselves, they become part of one of those video games, and perhaps that's why all these assault weapons are used."
Today, Candy reported from Newtown, Connecticut where she spoke to Governor Dan Malloy about trying to comfort a grieving community. Malloy reflected on the emotional experience of telling family members that they had lost loved ones. He also called for stricter gun laws. “These are assault weapons. You don't hunt deer with these things," he said.
Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), whose husband was killed in a mass shooting on the Long Island Railroad in 1993, called on President Obama to issue an executive order to tighten up the gun laws in place.
HIGHLIGHTS FULL POST
Candy reports on the dormant state of the gun control debate, and why it's likely to remain so.
Sen. John McCain weighs in on the debate over gun control in the aftermath of the Aurora, Colorado theater massacre.
"I think that we need to look at everything, if everything should be looked at, but to think that somehow gun control is - or increased gun control is the answer, in my view, that has to be proved."
From the country’s major political and policy issues to diplomacy on the global stage, State of the Union with Candy Crowley brings in the world’s top newsmakers and analysts to deliver the smartest, most comprehensive look at what matters most to you. Sundays at 9am and Noon ET.
Send Feedback | Subscribe 
| About Candy Crowley
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertise with us | About us | Help | Advertising Practices
