Dems, GOP Split on Stricter Gun Control

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West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin joined a growing chorus of Democrats, including several in Pennsylvania, who say the country needs to tighten gun laws in response to the mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school.

But Republicans say that before passing any laws, Congress needs to learn more about what happened on Friday, when Connecticut State Police say Adam Lanza shot 27 people and himself, including 20 first- graders in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. Police say he killed the children with a semi-automatic rifle similar to the military's M-16.

"I just don't understand the civilian use for semiautomatic weapons, or these clips that hold 30 rounds. That's not …