Washington, D.C.

With the Obama administration's proposals on gun control expected to be unveiled soon, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin weighed in on the issue on the Sunday morning talk shows.

"I don't own an assault weapon. I own guns. I don't have the multiclips," Manchin, D-W.Va., said "I need to talk to people who believe it's important for them to keep multiclips. I need to talk to the people that basically think they need those assault weapons. I need to talk to people that go to gun shows - don't believe they need to register. I want to hear from them . . . Why is it so important you're protecting that position?

"On the other hand, they're saying, 'How come you're not looking at people who have mental illness, who are causing this mass violence? How come you're not looking at the video games that my 8-year-old can to log into and see and really glorify violence' And it really is an all-inclusive approach, you know it's building a consensus."

But tougher laws are likely to face a tough time in Congress.

The president of the National Rifle Association said the NRA has enough votes at the moment to block a ban on military-style rifles.

Vice President Joe Biden is set to deliver his proposals for tougher gun control laws to President Obama this week. He is expected to recommend re-instituting the assault rifle ban. One was passed in 1994 and expired 10n years later, with its effectiveness still debated.

Universal background checks are required only when a gun is purchased at a retailer. New checks would close the so-called "Gun-Show Loophole" - and go even further - requiring a check for any private sale of a gun.

Meanwhile, a top Democratic lawmaker, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., is calling on large retailer to suspend sales of assault-style rifles until Congress acts.

All of the talk of a crackdown has caused a near-stampede of gun buying. People lined up around the block of at a gun show in Manchester, New Hampshire and another gun show in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., drew protesters from both sides.

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