FBI contender Wray asked if he would support 'common sense' gun control

Wray said he would have to "make an assessment based on the circumstances." on any gun control measure (Photo: CSPAN)

Wray said he would have to “make an assessment based on the circumstances” on any gun control measure. (Photo: CSPAN)

During almost a full day of Senate confirmation hearings on Wednesday, President Trump’s nominee to be the next FBI director was asked about gun politics.

Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Christopher Wray was asked a myriad of questions by the panel ranging from loyalty oaths to the Ukrainian government, until Connecticut’s Sen. Richard Blumenthal turned to guns after four hours of testimony.

“Let me switch to a different topic, you have mentioned the scourge of gun violence in this country,” Blumenthal said. “Would you support common sense measures to stop gun violence? As you know, I have championed a number of them along with others on this committee and in the Senate, including universal background checks. Would you support that kind of measure?”

Wray, a former U.S. assistant attorney general, replied, “I would want to take a look at any specific legislative proposal and get back to you once I had evaluated a specific piece of legislation. But I do support efforts to deal with gun violence aggressively and effectively and I think my record — both as a line prosecutor and in the leadership of the department — is consistent with that.”

When pressed on universal background checks specifically by Blumenthal, Wray, who served under the George W. Bush administration, responded that he wouldn’t rule it out but stressed he would “review it and make an assessment based on the circumstances.”

Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told reporters he plans to have Wray confirmed before the Senate’s August recess.

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