Outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) took a parting shot at Republicans on Sunday, describing them as having a laissez faire approach to gun rights that is “too extreme.”

Manchin gave an interview to CNN, where he referred to the Democrat Party as “toxic” and noted he can no longer be part of what the Democrat Party has become. However, FOX News pointed out he also leveled criticism at Republicans, particularly on guns/gun rights.

Manchin suggested Republicans lack “gun sense,” and suggesting there should be some controls but not to the extent that gun bans are discussed.

He added, “I’m not going to ban you from buying it, but you’re going to have to show some responsibility,” then said, “So the Democrats go too far, want to ban. [But] the Republican says, ‘Oh, let the good times roll. Let anybody have anything they want.’ Just some commonsense things there.”

He did not address the four big words in the Second Amendment: “Shall not be infringed.”

Manchin was President Barack Obama’s point-man for gun control following the December 14, 2012, attack on Sandy Hook Elementary. In response to that heinous attack, Manchin pushed expanded point-of-sale background checks which would not have even prevented the attack the occurring. (Point-of-sale gun control would not have worked because the gun used in the attack was stolen.)

In the summer of 2013, gun control advocate Mike Bloomberg threw a $1,000 a plate dinner for Manchin, to help raise money for his campaign coffers.  The The Register-Herald, located right in the heart of Manchin’s constituency in Beckley, WV, reported that Manchin’s office spent “nearly a week” prior to the dinner refusing to answer questions on the event hosted by Bloomberg.

AWR Hawkins is an award-winning Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and the writer/curator of Down Range with AWR Hawkins, a weekly newsletter focused on all things Second Amendment, also for Breitbart News. He is the political analyst for Armed American Radio, a member of Gun Owners of America, a Pulsar Night Vision pro-staffer, and the director of global marketing for Lone Star Hunts. He was a Visiting Fellow at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal in 2010 and has a Ph.D. in Military History. Follow him on Instagram: @awr_hawkins. You can sign up to get Down Range at breitbart.com/downrange. Reach him directly: awrhawkins@breitbart.com.