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Region's Lawmakers Divided On Gun Control Recommendations

By: Matt Laslo // January 14, 2013
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Vice President Joe Biden will send his recommendations on gun control to the president this week. 

There's been more calls for gun control on Capitol Hill in the wake of the Newtown, Conn. school shooting in December. But Congress remains divided,  increasing speculation that Biden will recommend that the president use an executive order to address the issue. 

But Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) warns against that. 

"Executive orders need to be used in limited ways. I'm not certain on gun control issues that that s the way to go about it," Wittman says. "It needs to be a transparent and open process, the discussion on that. I am concerned anytime the executive branch circumvents the legislative process."

So what can a divided Congress agree on? Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) believes there ought to be support for legislation like his NRA Members Gun Safety Act. It requires background checks for every gun purchase and prohibits anyone on the terrorist watch list from purchasing a gun, among other things. 

"All of which are supported by two-thirds of the NRA s membership but adamantly opposed by the NRA's leadership and its gun manufacturers who fund the leadership," Moran says. "That's the problem."

Biden unveils his proposal Tuesday — then all eyes will be on the NRA.

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