ST. PAUL — The mayor of Minneapolis and a man injured in the September mass shooting in town are calling on Minnesota Rep. Erik Paulsen to help pass a bill requiring background checks on all gun sales.

John Souter was expected this morning to join Mayor R.T. Rybak in Minnetonka, part of Paulsen’s district, to urge the Republican congressman to vote for universal background checks in Congress.

A spokesman for Paulsen did not return a request Wednesday for comment on his stance.

Expanding background checks to nearly all gun sales are at the heart of a push in the Senate to tighten federal firearm legislation. The debate has not yet hit the Republican-controlled House.

Souter was injured in the Sept. 27 shooting at Accent Signage Systems, in which five people were killed.