Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., told "CNN Newsroom" on Wednesday that Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., should not get distracted on mandatory buybacks of assault rifles and instead focus on the issue of background checks for those buying guns.

"I would say that pushing for mandatory buybacks would be a recipe for getting nothing done, and I want to get something done," Bennet said.

The Colorado senator said his bitter experience from attempts in the past to pass meaningful gun control legislation after previous mass shootings has been that people have gotten distracted by all kinds of other things.

Now "we have the opportunity right now to do what 90% of the American people want us to do, which is to have background checks," and that is where the focus should be concentrated, Bennet said.

When asked if the Republicans and President Donald Trump were serious about pushing forward gun control legislation, Bennet said "the proof will be in the pudding."

He said Democrats had called on the Senate to be recalled during the August recess to vote on background checks following the mass shootings in El PAso and Dayton, but the Republicans refused to do so.

Bennet reiterated in September, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will once again have the opportunity to put a bill on the floor that Colorado, a Second Amendment-supporting state, passed almost 20 years ago.

• Gun Control That's Truly Commonsense
• Solving the Problem of Mass Shootings