Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia has been seen as one of the most conservative Democrats in recent years, so when he said on Monday that the Connecticut shootings show the need for a broader discussion, it was noticed on Capitol Hill.

After all, in the 2010 and 2012 elections, Manchin wasn't flinching on guns, as he flaunted his support from the National Rifle Association, like in 2010 when he used a campaign spot to shoot a hole in a copy of a cap and trade bill that dealt with global warming.

But today, instead of brandishing a rifle, Manchin was talking about how things might need to change in the wake of last week's school attack.

"This awful massacre has changed where we go from here," Manchin said on Twitter.

"Everything needs to be on the table, and I ask all my colleagues to sit down to talk about firearms, mental health and our culture," Manchin added.