Assault weapons ban being readied for Senate action

Senate lawmakers today are beginning what appears to be their final push to pass gun control legislation in response to the deadly massacre at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school in December.

The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to markup - essentially, readying for debate - an assault weapons ban bill, which would also ban high-capacity ammunition magazines, as well as three other bills.

The assault weapons ban, however, is seen as having virtually no chance to get through Congress.

The decision by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., to nonetheless consider it in committee signals that the Senate is taking a piecemeal approach to passing gun control legislation, rather than trying to pass a comprehensive bill. That's because the assault weapons bill, which has a good chance to clear the committee, would almost certainly drag down the other gun control legislation if it were part of a comprehensive package presented to the full Senate. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the bill's sponsor, has acknowledged that her bill faced "very tough" prospects on the Senate floor.

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The other gun control bills scheduled to be taken up are a Leahy-backed measure to combat illegal arms trafficking; a bill sponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., focused on school safety; and a bill mandating universal background checks sponsored by Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

The Schumer bill would require nearly universal background checks resembling a measure he proposed two years ago. It will lack some of the provisions he tentatively had agreed to with Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who had been talking to Senate Democrats in an effort to ease the background check bill's passage through the Senate. One of the provisions not included is an appeals mechanism for veterans barred from obtaining guns because they have been formally declared to have serious mental difficulties.

Without the conservative Coburn's backing, any background check bill will have a more difficult time clearing the Senate. However, Democrats will continue discussions with Republicans and an aide told the Associated Press that talks will continue with Coburn.

Schumer's bill could be amended to reflect any bipartisan agreement that is reached by the time gun legislation reaches the floor, probably in April.

Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Mark Kirk, R-Ill., also have been involved in the background check negotiations and said in a joint statement that they would continue looking for an agreement with other senators.

"It is clear that ultimately we will need bipartisan support," Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said in an interview.

Leaders of the GOP-run House have said they will act after the Senate produces legislation.

Meantime, a study out this week showed that states with the most gun control laws have the fewest gun-related deaths, suggesting the sheer quantity of measures might make a difference.

But the research leaves many questions unanswered and won't settle the debate over how policymakers should respond to recent high-profile acts of gun violence.

In the dozen or so states with the most gun control-related laws, far fewer people were shot to death or killed themselves with guns than in the states with the fewest laws, the study found. Overall, states with the most laws had a 42 percent lower gun death rate than states with the least number of laws.

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[FOX_PARROTS_LIE]

"The assault weapons ban, however, is seen as having virtually no chance to get through Congress".



I agree, any AWB has absolutely no chance, and is a huge waste of time.

[bbfrog]

This is for all of you anti gun nuts out there. Do you want a civil war on your hands? I will absolutely guarantee you that when the first DHS agent shows up at some southern red necks home to take his firearms you will get a civil war. This country is like a cocked mouse trap. When one DHS agent touches the cheese the trap will snap and it will not be nice when it does. Trust me, leave these people along. You do not want what they can dish out. Not many of them are saying anything but just one wrong move on the governments part and all you know what will break loose and when it does it will be hard to stop. So if you must keep on pushing this gun control then be prepared for something you do not want.

[suade907]

Democrats cause 90% of the crime in this country, why don't we just ban them!! Just check the jails. They are full of people who voted for Obama.

[timtlc2]

Most people that die by firearms are suicides. No study has suggested if we did away with guns there would be less suicides (see Japanese suicide rates 3X's US, very strict gun laws-it is a cultural thing).

Murders by firearms, 98% were done with hand guns and in over 60% of those cases both the purpetrator and the victim were felons. Neither could legally own or possess a firearm. So how is taking my modern sporting rifles away going to reduce firearm murders when they are being commited over drugs by gangs controlling the inner city drug trade?

[trout-fish]

jseymouriii replies:

My liberty requires that you do not tell me what I need and when I need it.

=============================================


Then you better go find a little cabin in the outback of Alaska. Good luck.

[Thomas1924]

Trout fish you said it straight! But let them tremble with their Bushmasters clutched in their hands. The commies are after them and they are victims and because they need a gun for bad shots because with the Bushmaster they have No Reason to Aim.

[sandy 1027]

If there are no uniform, federal restrictions, this is meaningless.I am not familiar with the gun laws of various states, but the article uses the example of New Jersey, which has tight gun laws.It is bordering/neighboring other states with similar gun laws ; so it would not be so easy for a resident of the state of New Jersey to just drive a state or 2 over and buy or sell weapons or ammo, etc.If it was surrounded by states with lax gun laws,its own tough laws would still be important( and probably still save lives because not everyone would drive into another state to buy a gun, etc.), but Jersey's laws would be less effective because of it.Nevertheless,most states with sound gun laws have fewer gun-related deaths; and that makes sense.Sensible legislation would seriously decrease the number of deaths.

[Justice_Prevails]

If you are a politician who truly wishes to protect children it is much more productive to look at the recent (2012) CDC's study of accidental deaths in children from 0-14 years of age.
Motor vehicle- 4,564
Suffocation- 1,160
Drowning- 983
Poisoning- 824
Fire/Burn- 391
Falls- 151
Other Unspecified- 1,070 (firearm related deaths are a part of the Unspecified category).

[trout-fish]

Why can't we try to do better on all, INCLUDING guns?

[Justice_Prevails]

Gun owners represent a wide range of people who are democrats, republicans, libertarians, independents and others that are law abiding citizens. They are every day blue collar workers, corporate executives and even entertainers. When liberals use rigged polls in urban cities to give false support for their cause they are usually only polls of 1,000 or 2,000 people who 90% support gun control.

I have a different poll, its from the entire nation and its a verifiable poll because these people are voting with their $ dollars. According to the FBI NICS database, there were 2,309,393 background checks completed in the month of February. The only two months that saw a higher number of NICS checks were January 2013, with 2,495,440, and December of 2012, with 2,783,765.

For you liberals that's 7.5 Million people, and it does not include the millions of people who, like me have a carry permit because we don't need a background check to purchase a firearm. Firearm manufacturers can't make guns fast enough to meet the need. Also, guess who this fastest growing segment of gun buyers are... Women. For anyone liberal politician who votes for gun control - I don't think 2014 will be very pleasant unless you want to be unemployed.

[sharong59]

I think the people on here ******** about assault weapons bans are hoarding weapons, are conspiracy theorists and have mental issues and/or are felons and know if this bill passes, they won't be able to get any more guns! Poor babies! In view of all the innocent men, women and children massacred by loonies with assault weapons, we need to do everything we can to prevent it from happening again. No sane American needs an assault weapons with hundreds of rounds of ammo to defend their house and/or go hunting with! Assault weapons belong in the hands of swat teams and the military only! The NRA is only against it because they want to keep gun sales going! Tough **** Wayne! Our lives our more important than your profit!

[timtlc2]

Who cares what you think I need. It is a God given right recognized by the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. It is not a "Assualt Rifle" it is a modern sporting rifle, the most purchased style rifle for the past 19 years (since the last ban ended). And no, your quote about 100's being massacred is a gross exaggeration. Adam Lanza picke Sandy Hook because it was a "gun free zone". Every loony confronted by an armed defender has run off and killed themselves.

I don't care whether you want to arm yourself or not, but my Constitutional rights say your opinion does count for swat.

[RCcheckitout]

For all you liberalistic retards and self-rightious dogooders! don't worry about my guns. Start digging holes for the creaps who commit these acts. This would be more effective and send a messeage that it will not be tolorated. I will not ever be a victom because some panty waist is worried about a big black gun. those big black guns are my right to own and carry to protect my family and myself along with my country from tyrants like you who wish to give the almighty government all the power they want just so they can get a few freebees and to feel tingly all over that big brother is goin to make everything all better. When not if this country falls apart I will leave you to the wolves and take care of my own and people with your mentality.