A bipartisan group of senators is on the verge of a deal that would expand background checks to all private firearms sales with limited exemptions, says the Washington Post. Still, significant disagreements remain on the issue of keeping records of private gun sales. An agreement would be a first step toward consideration of legislation to limit gun violence after the Newtown, Ct., school shootings.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected this week to begin considering proposals to limit gun violence. The deal is expected to earn more GOP support and likely is enough to move the bill through the Senate. A resolution on whether to keep records of private sales is key to earning the support of one of the Republicans involved in the talks, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), who has a solid A-rating from the National Rifle Association. "I don’t think we’re that close to a deal," Coburn said on “Fox News Sunday. "And there absolutely will not be recordkeeping on legitimate, law-abiding gun owners."