ADVERTISEMENT Murphy, in a statement and in a separate interview with MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell , said the White House remains at the table about legislation to expand the number of gun sales that would be subjected to a background check. The gun debate will be at the top of Congress's agenda once it returns next week.

"As we speak, we are in discussions with the White House about just that: legislation that would include significant changes to our background checks system to make sure that more gun sales are subject to background checks. The White House is at the table and I continue to see a path where good legislation emerges that the president supports and can pass the Senate," Murphy said in a statement.

Sen.(D-Conn.) said on Thursday that he sees a path to a deal with the White House on background checks legislation but cautioned it was too soon to say if they would be able to clinch an agreement.