Assault Weapons Ban To Be Considered By Senate Panel

Still a heavy lift for supporters

After the Newtown, Conn., elementary school massacre gun control supporters have pushed for a new assault weapons ban. Now the Senate Judiciary Committee is considering it.

The panel on Wednesday will hold the first hearing on a proposed revamped assault weapons ban, USA Today reports. A ban was in effect from 1994 to 2004, when it expired because Congress didn't renew it. The future of the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013, sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), would ban 157 kinds of "military-style" assault weapons.

Feinstein, the author of the first ban, will preside over the hearing. It will feature testimony from Neil Heslin, whose 6-year-old son, Jesse Lewis, was one of the 20 schoolchildren shot and killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

But getting the proposal enacted into law is an uphill climb, to say the least. The Democratic-controlled Senate will be challenge enough. But prospects are even worse in the Republican-dominated House of Representatives. Neither the House nor the Senate versions of the assault weapons ban have Republican co-sponsors.

Via USA Today.

Do you support the assault weapons ban?

[Concerned_Cit]

What a DISGUSTING anti-American woman that thing is. Why is she trying so hard to disarm lawabiding honest Americans? Something sinister about it all.

[Concerned_Cit]

NO MORE RESTRICTIONS on Americans! No Universal Background Checks (Political talk for gun registration, then confiscation), No so-called "assault" weapon ban (they're now called homeland security weapons, or freedom sticks), no high-cap ban (they're regular capacity, not high). No more restrictions on the Bill of Rights. Americans are getting tired of this disarmament propaganda from these extremist politicians.

[NTBFW]

It's odd that a terrible crime happens, and they attack the most law abiding demographic in the nation.

[Concerned_Cit]

@NTBFW Like their mantra goes, "never let a tragedy go to waste to further political gain". It's sinister and disgusting.

[marine1]

I will tell you exactly why she and those like her want to take the guns away and that is because the lack of morality welfare state that they have created is causing problems and they have no answers has to how to controll their own doings.

[Concerned_Cit]

@marine1 I'd say the following slogan sums it up. "An armed person is a citizen, an unarmed person is a subject".

[NTBFW]

Leading question?

[martydotcom]

Hopefully they'll call Wayne LaPierre to testify. Unlike Darrell Issa's hearings when he refused to allow women to testify on contraception (Sandra Fluke)

[Sonny]

I don't believe that it will "reduce" the "number" of mass shootings, but I do think that it might help to reduce the number of lives lost when one of those mass shootings takes place.

[NTBFW]

@Sonny so would someone shooting back. In fact most mass shootings happen in gun free zones. They don't like to try it at all when someone is shooting back.

[Sonny]

@NTBFW Maybe...But my only concern with that is the many other innocent people who might be killed just as easily by the armed citizen as the criminal....I mean, for example, what would have happened in the recent movie theatre shooting, if one or more armed citizens opened up in a dark room like that....I really think scenarios like that need to somehow be taken into consideration.

[AnnieO]

@Sonny What would have happened if the psychiatrist for the Aurora shooter had done her job in the first place?

[zachsquatch]

The people supporting these bans are the most ignorant to the topic. Just ask Carolyn McCarthy about the "shoulder thing that goes up". I know I am thinking the impossible, but I hope that there are enough people in Congress with enough sense to see that any bans will reduce crime. I originally was for the background checks, but after doing my own research, I have to oppose it as well on the basis that my information will be in a central database. I am all for FFL checks where my records will be kept on file with a dealer and can be seen with a warrant, but no, I don't want any government agency to have free reign on what firearms I have purchased without probable cause.

[armed_liberal]

No gun ban will make it through the senate or the house. I support closing the gun show loophole, btw.

[Vance1]

Do you support the assault weapons ban?

Absolutely NOT!!

assault weapons have been banned since 1984, and even to own an M16 today you already are required to have a class 3 FFL.

all these democrats want to do is to litterally steal your American freedoms

[marine1]

Maybe they should ban democrats from having weapons as most of the people doing the shooting lean left.

[Zazziness]

@marine1 That's not true; it's a lie that's been debunked over and over but hey, why not keep repeating it since it fits your agenda?

[marine1]

@Zazziness ok

[Zazziness]

@marine1 I'm not kidding. I heard the accusation in more detail before and looked it up. The person passing around the "information" was wrong and/or lying about well over half the people on the list. Heck, kids too young to vote, like the Columbine killers, were somehow counted as "Democrats." People who live in states which do not allow partisanship registration were counted as "Democrats." It was just internet bs.
The fact is that people who are mass murderers and/or random assassins are sociopaths or some other flavor of screw-loose crazy. They aren't leftists. They aren't rightwingers. They are nuts.

[marine1]

@Zazziness I think you look at my post enough to know i like to stir the pot every once in a while. You are right, the people that shoot up the joint are nuts but then those that are suppose to competently legislate a resolve to the situation are just as nuts. Reality is, what they purpose will NOT solve the problem.

[zachsquatch]

...To see that any bans WILL NOT reduce crime. Silly me.

[martydotcom]

Why would you expect a criminal or insane person to obey the law? Apparently you prefer anarchy?

[zachsquatch]

@martydotcom Lower the nose, you're going to stall.

[martydotcom]

@zachsquatch snark makes sense coming Rand Paul land where few are capable of passing the two tooth minimum. Keep your eye on the still. What proof you producing ?

[Fitz]

@martydotcom there you go again getting you states confused. Rand Paul is from Kentucky, not West Virginia.

[martydotcom]

@Fitz Zachsquatch who chose to start the snark is from KY not West Va so who's confused

[MadAmerican]

For every civilian that gets to testify for the ban there should be a civilian available to testify against this. These pricks do not live in the real world and have heavily armed security, therefor it is a blatant act of stupidity for them to not pay attention to the polls as well as the people who voted them into office. I hope these dumba** democrats do vote for it so they can lose their seats next term because they are ignoring the legal, lawabiding citizens! And when they do get voted out I hope they lose their damn armed security and get a taste of being a victim of crime!

[zachsquatch]

An AR-15 has the same fire rate as a double action revolver. In fact, with enough training, one can reload a revolver in less than a second's time. I don't know who would want to carry around a pocket full of speed loaders, but my point still remains. One shot per trigger pull. The bans are ONLY about cosmetics. Those EVIL EVIL black guns.

[Concerned_Cit]

She wants to ban ALL handguns also. "Mr and Mrs. America, turn them all in" is her quote when asked if she could ban all firearms, would she.

[AnnieO]

You can see from the debates on here that a lot of people who support the ban don't even know what an "assault weapon" is. It's laughable that they call the AR a "military" gun!

[stepped_in_it]

Always wondered if all this "hoopla" would be happening if assault weapons were painted rich hue colors......something for the gun manf. to think about?

[Concerned_Cit]

@AnnieO Exactly, and that is what Obama and her are counting on, swaying the non-gun owners or the uninformed owners into going along with their bans. That is why educating people on firearms in a positive way is the best defense and offense in preserving American's rights.

[AnnieO]

@stepped_in_it I saw a pink camo AR-15. It was cute but only had a .22 caliber. I like my black ones in .556.

[MattiMuck]

Finding the hundreds of weapons still outstanding from the ATF sale to Mexican drug cartels would be a much wiser pursuit, and more productive, but then again, that wouldn't serve their purposes.

[marine1]

It is trully sad that this is the caliber of goverment that we have to settle for.Incompetence does not begin to describe the inability of these people.

[stepped_in_it]

"Feinstein, the author of the first ban"......You Californians have allow this woman to be in politics since (at least) 1994? Think it's time to take away you guy's granola/berries and medical MJ because you have all lost touch with reality. Her and Boxer convinces me Cali needs to shake into the ocean and give someone else a chance for ocean views....LOL

[Concerned_Cit]

Guarantee she is rigging elections, even Californians cannot be that crazy and want to give up all their freedoms.

[stepped_in_it]

@Concerned_Cit IDK.....I grew up there and......yeah, they're that crazy. Californians are very much like granola....what isn't fruits, nuts is flakes.....;-)

[thumper11]

I'm doing my best to talk some sense into them. But, most are simply not receptive to logic, reason, facts, the rule-of-law, or rational thought. They prefer to just "feel" their way through life - thinking (about anything) is just waaay too much effort.

The Democrats here now have a super-majority in both houses - as well as controlling the governor's mansion and the courts. They have already banned any carry of any gun (even unloaded) by 99% of the citizens (i.e. those not politically connected). Now their are gearing up for full registration followed by confiscation. Brace for impact.

[jessejaymes]

This much ado about nothing. Pandering for votes in 2014. Working the bases. Smoke screening the fiscal situation. What's it not is legislation. And restrictions on guns will come from individual states. Not the feds. Won't happen.

[stepped_in_it]

Yeah, but nothing is more fun than dropping a stink bomb in a room and locking the door behind ya. Just have to wonder how many will scream either "civil war", bear arms, cold dead hands and or 2nd amendment without realizing what exactly this is......pandering!

[artjeb]

Mass hesteria by the uninformed don't care jerks. No iota of repercutions for thier actions Just more chickenlittles

[SAS86]

"shall not be infringed" is not understood by the illiterate gun grabbers who either can't read the Constitution or choose to ignore it. Our county sheriff calls malls, schools, theaters, Chicago, and New York shooting galleries with live moving targets!

[AntiPorcheria]

Nothing like wasting time on the public dime.

[Vance1]

Sen. Dianne Feinstein is indeed an actual welfare state communism seeker, No wonder the state of CA, is so messed up with the likes of people like her.

[marine1]

That is because she and those like her have NO idea how to make an honest dollar. They only know how to take from those that do.

[miketost]

The senate has not been able to pass a budget for what 5 years now?Even the kings proposal of a budget could not gain enough support to even be voted on in the senate.Yet these fools can focus on a weapon that is killing less people than all others combined get real.Law enforcement the military or even the U.N. as far as that goes does not fear a handgun compared as to a weapon that can do its job from several 100 yards away.If its about saving lives which its not the focus would be on handguns.

[FollowTheMoney]

If it weren't for guns, We'd still be British.

[Eagle1]

I'm surprised EPA hasn't found something they could hang their hat in this debate. Everybody else has.

[marine1]

Only because lead poison might be irrelevant?:}

[NTBFW]

They are already banning lead bullets in Ca.

[zachsquatch]

If anyone wants to donate 7,500 dollars to me, I would love a Barrett .50 BMG. Would you do this, just dollars a day, a cup of Starbucks Coffee...Can you show the world you have a heart?

[AnnieO]

If someone buys that for you, I'm coming over to shoot it!!!

[NTBFW]

Would you like to shoot mine ?

[zachsquatch]

@NTBFW I would, as long as you don't mind PDA being shown to your firearm. I noticed a .50 BMG upper for AR lowers around 2 grand, but I don't think the aluminum frame can handle many shots.

[NTBFW]

@zachsquatch it's a beast. But I can do anything with a .338 Lapua that the Barrett will

[zachsquatch]

@NTBFW Indeed. .338 is a bad boy as well. Savage usually turns me off for higher end weapons, but their BA110 is just plain sexy. Saw them at a gun store for right at a grand...the price of the ammo, leaves something to be desired.

[DARSB]

I agree with Ronald Reagan, Gen Stanley McChrystal and Colin Powell - combat arms do not belong in civilian hands on the streets of this country.

[Medicinebow]

All arms can be used for combat. Bolt action rifles were the norm not that long ago. Which military weapons are you talking about?

[Concerned_Cit]

@Medicinebow Don't take the bait, this guy is all about taking away American's freedoms and rights, just check out his voting record.

[stepped_in_it]

They don't look so evil now.....new gun manf. mandate....rich hue colors?
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2007/10/21...

[Medicinebow]

@Concerned_Cit I know he is pretty set against these weapons. Still, I have learned a bunch from him and we do have cordial discussions. Like many in life, I may not agree with their position(s) on topics but can agree to disagree. Heck, i'd even take him target shooting if he wanted to go. Sometimes folks deadset against something simply have no experience with weapons of any type. A little education can sometimes be a good thing. I don't worry about taking any bait :)

[zachsquatch]

The AR-15 is not a combat arm. You will not see a serviceman using an AR-15 as their combat weapon.

[mwr]

punish the law abiding citizen for political resume. This law has no value, scareface will still have automatic weapons and gang bangers will still have 15 round clips.