Assault weapons ban passed after heated Senate hearing

[MindMover]

Source: Washington Post

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill banning almost 160 specific military-style assault weapons Thursday after a heated exchange between senators about the scope of the Second Amendment.

The Democratic-controlled panel approved the bill on a party-line vote of 10 to eight — all Democrats voted yes, all Republicans voted no.

In the past week the committee has approved four Democratic-backed proposals to limit gun violence in America, all introduced in the wake of the mass shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn. that left 20 elementary school children dead — and occurred three months ago Thursday.

Debate over gun control now shifts to the Senate, where the chamber’s divide between liberal, urban-state Democrats and Republicans and moderate Democrats weary of infringing on the rights of gun owners makes passage of the four proposals more difficult

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/03/14/assault-weapons-ban-passed-after-heated-senate-hearing/?wprss=rss_election-2012

[AlbertCat]

1. weary of infringing on the rights of gun owners

Weary of not getting corporate money and not getting reelected.


Wait.... that's just cynical.


Let me rephrase....


Weary of not getting corporate money.... period!

as this obviously proves: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26315908/#51156401

[premium]

2. it's a moot point.

It has no chance of passing in the full senate much less in the house.

[Bandit]

3. And isn't that a SAD commentary on America?

[premium]

4. yep.

I do believe that the congress will pass a universal background check along with strengthening the straw purchase law with stiffer penalties which will do much more for keeping firearms out of the hands of those that are disqualified to own them than an AWB or a mag limit.

Of course, criminals will always find a way to get a firearm if they really want one.

[hack89]

8. It is a commentary on the reality of 2014 Senate election politics

there are too many Dems up for reelection that represent pro-gun conservative states. Committing political suicide is too much to ask of any elected official.

[John2]

11. I wonder about those

claims on pro-gun conservative states? I don't know many people in North Carolina owns assault weapons. You might find some in the rural areas but I don't see people in urban cities fretting on who owns a gun or not. They are more concerned about gun violence the same as a person in New York City. I wonder if Senator Hagan really thinks this is an important issue among her constituents, moreso than the economy or healthcare? Maybe she should conduct a private Poll of her own?

[hack89]

15. Alaska, Montana, Arkansas, South Dakota, New Mexico, Virginia

Last edited Thu Mar 14, 2013, 06:51 PM - Edit history (1)

All Democratic incumbents. All Conservative pro-gun states.

As for Kay Hagan, we want her to keep her campaign promises, don't we?

I am a strong supporter of Second Amendment right

I am a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights. My children received lifelong hunting licenses when they were born, and hunting has been a favorite pastime of our family. Responsible gun ownership is not only part of the fabric of my state, but it is also a fundamental Constitutional right. I pledge to continue to protect their rights when I am in the US Senate.
Source: 2008 Senate campaign website, www.KayHagan.com, “Issues” , Jul 12, 2008

http://www.ontheissues.org/domestic/Kay_Hagan_Gun_Control.htm

[obama2terms]

10. That's what I told

My very pro-gun friend. Well after explaining to him how our gov't works. He thought Obama could just say "let's ban assault weapons" and it would just happen. So I had to explain the whole process of it passing through the senate committee, the senate etc. I don't see it passing the senate, there's democrats in red states that I don't think would take the risk let alone any republicans.

[mwrguy]

5. Good, now follow Michael Moore's advice and ram it through on a wave of disgust and outrage

All it takes is a spine.

[tblue]

6. That's the one thing we haven't got.

We need the Wizard of Oz and his little black bag.

[premium]

7. You are aware that there are 6 Dem senators who have come out in opposition to the AWB?

Virtually every repub is in opposition of the AWB along with up to 6 Dem senators, so how do they ram it through?

And even if they managed to break the filibuster, and pass it out of the senate, how will it get past the repub controlled house?

It's pretty clear that the AWB along with the mag. limit is DOA, instead we should concentrate on what has a chance to pass, mainly the universal background checks, the straw purchase bill.

[John2]

12. Who are these six

Democrats and how many of these republicans come from urban areas? If one is Kay Hagan, I would target her on the liberal Democratic side. Most of the Democratic Party in North Carolina are not Dixiecrats. The majority of her base outnumber the more conservative ones. And those who are more conservative, just as well join the Republican Party. The point being, I don't think North Carolina overall is that much of a gun crazy state, that people think it is. I would like to see how many North Carolina citizens really own assault weapons and think it is that important of an issue? Do you have some instate Polls?

[premium]

16. Here's a list of those Dems opposed to the AWB.

It's 5 Dems and 1 Ind.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-25/assault-weapons-ban-lacks-democratic-votes-to-pass-senate.html

The five Democratic senators from traditionally pro-gun states who have expressed skepticism about the bill are Max Baucus and Jon Tester of Montana, Mark Begich of Alaska, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Independent Senator Angus King of Maine, who caucuses with Democrats, also said he opposes a ban.

Maine Senator Susan Collins, a Republican who supported similar legislation in 2004, has indicated she is unlikely to back the proposed ban in its current form.

Even if it did by some miracle get past the senate, it won't even be brought to the floor of the house.

[John2]

13. In fact I just

did a quick internet research on North Carolina and came up with an Elon Poll. Their Poll indicated 93 percent of North Carolinians favor gun control and 56 percent favors an assault weapons ban. I think the Press have been putting out misinformation about North Carolina being a gun crazy state.

[judesedit]

9. Their puppeteers won't allow it. It's all about the $$$$$$$ for them. Show them the pictures.

[Progressive dog]

14. Make them vote on gun regulation

In my opinion " the infringing on the rights of gun owners" is a pathetic and ignorant statement.
For our entire history of the bill of rights, the self anointed interpreter of the Constitution known as the Supreme Court, has allowed regulation of gun ownership.
Gun worshipers may not like the fact that they don't get to decide what the 2nd amendment means, but they never have had that right.
Gun worshipers may think that 30,000 gun deaths a year are a perfectly acceptable outcome of their gun worship, but they are wrong.
Gun worshipers may continue to parrot the NRA talking points, but fewer and fewer of us will listen or believe them.

Let's see how these legislators vote on even these few pitiful steps to limit gun violence.