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CHICAGO (AP) -- U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says he's still unsure whether various gun-control proposals making their way through Congress should be introduced separately for votes or all bundled into one big bill.

The Illinois Democrat spoke at a news conference in Chicago Friday to promote one bill that would crack down on so-called straw purchasing -- where someone buys guns and sells them to others not authorized to buy weapons. It was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

Durbin appeared with the parents of Hadiya Pendleton, the Chicago teenager who was fatally shot days after performing at President Barack Obama's inauguration.

The bill approved Thursday by the judiciary committee has been named for Hadiya (hy-DEE'-uh) Pendleton. Durbin says it may have more bipartisan support than other separate proposals.

A Missouri man has filed a lawsuit claiming the state requires to much of his information to obtain a concealed carry permit.

Eric Griffin lives in the southeastern Stoddard County. He refused to let the DMV scan his records into their system. Griffin claims that is an invasion of privacy and should have no bearing on his ability to get a conceal carry license.

KMOV reports that Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder has thrown his support behind the lawsuit. The lawsuit seeks an injunction against the DMV and claims their actions are illegal.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A Missouri Senate panel is trying to prevent the enforcement in the state of President Barak Obama's executive orders on gun control.

The committee voted Tuesday to adopt the measure sponsored by Sen. Brian Munzlinger, of Williamstown.

Obama signed 23 executive actions in January, including orders to make more federal data available for background checks and end a freeze on government research on gun violence.

Munzlinger's bill initially would have criminalized the enforcement of all federal gun laws, even those enacted by Congress, passed after Jan. 1, 2013. But those provisions were revised to include only the enforcement of executive orders.

A House committee endorsed similar legislation last week, but that measure seeks to criminalize enforcement of all federal gun laws.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri Constitution already enshrines the right to bear arms, but a state senator wants to expand that protection.

The Senate General Laws Committee scheduled a vote Monday on the proposal by Republican Sen. Kurt Schaefer, of Columbia.

The proposed constitutional amendment would define the right to bear arms as "inalienable" and require the state to defend against any "infringement" of that right.

Schaefer filed his measure shortly after President Barack Obama outlined his plans for stricter federal gun control laws.

If passed by both the House and Senate, the constitutional amendment would need to be approved by Missouri voters.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A small, bipartisan group of senators is quietly trying to reach a compromise on expanding the requirement for background checks to cover nearly all gun purchases. A deal could give political momentum to one of the key elements of President Barack Obama's gun-control plan.

The private talks involve liberal Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, who is the No. 3 Senate Democratic leader, and West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a National Rifle Association member and one of the Senate's more moderate Democrats.

On the Republican side, participants are Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, another NRA member and one of the more conservative lawmakers in Congress, and moderate Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois.

The NRA says expanding background checks would do little good because criminals largely get their guns illegally.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is seeking public input on concealed carry of firearms and gun safety at two hearings later this month.

The Chicago Democrat announced Thursday that the Judiciary Committee will have public hearings Feb. 19 at the state Capitol and Feb. 22 in Chicago.

Madigan says the hearings will allow gun-rights advocates, gun-control supporters and police to "offer their views and argue their cases" on the issues.

A federal court rejected the state's concealed-carry ban in December and demanded the Illinois Legislature adopt some form of firearms possession.

Madigan says hearings are important after the court decision and the December school massacre in Connecticut.

Concealed-carry legislation that narrowly failed in 2011 has been re-introduced in the Illinois House.