Toomey crosses gun-rights divide in Pennsylvania Senate race

    Freshman U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey is the rare conservative Republican who’s running for re-election with the support of gun-control activists, including billionaire Michael Bloomberg.

    Toomey has separated himself from most GOP Senate colleagues by refusing to endorse Donald Trump. Meanwhile, he’s facing questions from skeptical Republicans over his votes to expand background checks.

    His stance so angered gun-rights group the American Gun Owners Alliance that they plan to back his Democratic opponent, Katie McGinty, to send a message to Republicans who deviate from orthodoxy on guns.

    Toomey points to his support for various gun-rights causes. But he also says he doesn’t see a conflict between the right to own a gun and a background check.

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