W.Va.'s Manchin: Time to rethink gun legislation - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Sen. Joe Manchin, a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association, says it's time to discuss gun policy and move toward action on gun regulation following the school shooting in Connecticut that killed 20 children.

The conservative West Virginia Democrat said Monday he agrees with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has advocated banning the sale of assault weapons.

Manchin tells MSNBC's "Morning Joe" says he is a "proud outdoorsman and hunter, but this doesn't make sense."

He is the most prominent gun rights advocate to speak publicly in the wake of the shooting. NBC's Meet the Press reached out to 31 pro-gun rights senators Sunday to discuss the issue, but all of them declined to be on the show. The NRA has not updated its social media pages since Friday, and has not addressed the shooting in any public statement.

Democrats say meaningful action in the wake of last week's elementary school shooting must include a ban on military-style assault weapons as well as a look at how the nation deals with individuals suffering from serious mental illness.

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein says she will introduce legislation next year to ban new assault weapons, as well as big clips, drums and strips of more than 10 bullets.

New York Sen. Chuck Schumer says the nation may be at "a tipping point where we might actually get something done."

President Barack Obama didn't bring up gun control when he spoke Sunday at a vigil in Newtown, Conn., the site of Friday's massacre. But he vowed to "use whatever power" his office holds to prevent another such tragedy.

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