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Senate Judiciary Committee OK’s Ban On So-Called ‘Assault Weapons’

Mar. 14, 2013 1:53pm Becket Adams

Senate Judiciary Committee Votes 10 8 To Approve Ban On So Called Assault Weapons

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. (Getty Images).

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday voted 10-8 to approve a ban on so-called “assault” weapons. Every Democrat supported the bill while all eight Republicans opposed it.

However, although the bill passed the Democrat-led committee, it has little chance of making it through the Senate or the Republican-controlled House.

The committee passed the bill after rejecting a series of Republican amendments aimed at exempting victims of sexual abuse, people living along the Southwest border, and others from the prohibition.

The GOP proposals were defeated along party lines.

“There are plenty of weapons out there,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said during Thursday’s hearing. “The whole point of this bill is to reduce over time the supply, purchase, and transfer of military type weapons.”

Democrats on the committee include Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.), Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), Chuck Schumer (New York), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Al Franken (Minn.), Christopher A. Coons (Del.), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), and Mazie Hirono (Hawaii).

Republicans on the committee include Chuck Grassley (Iowa), Orrin G. Hatch (Utah), Jeff Sessions (Ala.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), John Cornyn (Texas), Michael S. Lee (Utah), Ted Cruz (Texas), and Jeff Flake (Ariz.).

“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and other top Democrats, including Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (Vt.), will now try to craft one package out of the Feinstein proposal and other gun-related bills,” POLITICO reports.

“The Judiciary Committee has previously approved a gun-trafficking bill that expands federal sanctions for ‘straw purchasers’ of guns, as well as a universal background checks proposal. The panel also approved an additional $40 million for school safety programs,” the report adds.

President Barack Obama made a ban on “assault weapons” part of the gun curbs he proposed in January, a month after a shooter with an assault rifle killed 20 first-graders and six educators at a school in Newtown, Conn. Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and others have argued that such firearms are used in a disproportionate number of mass shootings and shouldn’t be available to civilians.

The prohibition is one of the most controversial of the gun restrictions being considered in Congress. Its opponents say law-abiding citizens should not lose their Second Amendment right to own the weapons, which they say are popular for self-defense, hunting, and collecting.

But most importantly self-defense.

Thursday’s debate included a fiery clash between Feinstein, the ban’s author, and freshman conservative Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), TheBlaze noted earlier.

Cruz said Feinstein’s bill would create exceptions to the Second Amendment and asked her if she would favor exemptions to the First Amendment’s freedom of speech by denying that right to certain books.

“I’m not a sixth-grader,” said a visibly upset Feinstein. She described her decades in Congress involved in gun control debates and said, “I’m reasonably well-educated, and thank you for the lecture.”

Former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was seriously injured in the mass shooting that killed six people in Tucson, Ariz. two years ago, arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington with husband Mark Kelly, Jan. 30, 2013, for a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Several Republicans including Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who proposed the GOP amendments that were defeated, argued that the most effective approach to curbing gun violence would be to improve how mental health records are sent to the federal system that checks backgrounds of potential gun buyers.

Cornyn also said that as a result of Feinstein’s ban, criminals would still get the weapons.

“We’re going to give American citizens a pea shooter to defend themselves with,” Cornyn said.

Feinstein’s bill would ban large-capacity ammunition magazines carrying more than 10 rounds, which she and her allies say allow shooters to inflict more casualties before pausing to reload, which is when they might be stopped. Adam Lanza, the Newtown gunman, was said to have had 30-round magazines.

Her bill would also ban semi-automatic weapons that can take a detachable magazine and have at least one “military feature” like a pistol grip.

The bill specifically bans 157 named weapons while allowing 2,258 rifles and shotguns frequently used by hunters.

The measure’s passage by the Judiciary panel has been a foregone conclusion for some time. As mentioned in the above, it will be far more vulnerable in the full Senate, where Democrats are expected to need 60 votes for passage through the 100-member chamber.

Final Thought: Just so we’re absolutely clear, the Senate Judiciary Committee in its ongoing attempts to curb gun violence has so far voted in favor of a) universal background checks, b) an “assault weapons” ban, and c) limits on magazine size.

–

RELATED:

Dianne Feinstein Battles Ted Cruz in Heated Senate Showdown Over Guns: ‘I’m Not a 6th Grader’

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Featured image Getty Images.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (125)

CulperGang
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 11:42pm
‘SHALL NOT INFRINGE” Obey the RULE of the LAND or GTFO of the United States.

Who TF do these people think they are. GTFO of the USAand take your commie friends with you.
MOLONLABE
Speculation has it that DHS is preparing for a nuke attack orchestrated by the Brits/US gov, hence the fema body bags/coffins

“Clinton time is a decade away. Carter time is much older. Why would they beat a dead horse? It’s similar to the recent attack on Roman Catholic with decades old sex abusing cases. There is a purpose behind it. Did other presidents of US have committed similar negligence? Why Clinton and Carter were picked up? It抯 because they are in same party with current president – Obama. To make it easy for people to believe Demo-controlled government is negligent in security. These events are used to justify a coming nuclear terror attack. The two news within a week is not a coincidence. It opens a passage of nuclear attack when the low end gate (operation) of air force and the high end gate (command) of President are both opening.
These bombing attack news and nuclear negligence news were all released at a time around 10/27.
652. Another plot of nuclear attack (11/11/2010)
I allege Feds planned a nuclear attack on US in later October. If you remember, there was an attempt of similar attack on August 30, 2007 when a B-52 carried 6 loaded nuclear missile flied over US continent.
On August 28, 2007, media reported that Bush accepted the resignation of Attorney Gen

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CAATTY
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 11:29pm
Feinstein informed? Hardly. See a video on the emotions of gun control at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ilJVXCXP9g

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zombieocracy
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 10:46pm
Hey Barry: If you’re not a tyrant, you don’t need to worry about my gun, do you?

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zombieocracy
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 10:26pm
FeinsteinThink: surely no one who is willing to murder another person would even think of violating a gun law!

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southernORcobra
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:37pm
Get ready for war.

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allwxflyer
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:14pm
RANGER1965 said Don’t worry, Don’t worry…………. Don’t believe it….. Nothing is a sure thing.
If you get into a sense of security, it’ll come around and bite you in the butt…. I’ve seen it before.
Everyone needs to get out and deluge those those left wing d…heads with e-mails, snail mail, anything that will send the message that they are not getting away with this insanity. Hell, package
up all those bullet riddled coke and pepsi cans from the range and mail them to your senators and
reps…… But, most of all DONT STAND BY AND LET “SOMEONE ELSE” DO IT !!!!!!!!!!!

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OKLANURSE71
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 9:14pm
I agree that this is leading up to something, that something being a one world government imposed when we the people no longer can fight back. I can see this being acheived as the continued stripping away of our personal rights and continued subversion of the Constitution, allowing the government to label anyone who continues to proclaim allegence to said Constitution and resists a terrorist, providing legal standing to round up said people and place them in concentration camps or be ” neutralized”, leaving poorly educated and ill informed masses wide open to the imposition of said world governance. Note the continued use of phrases like “global economy”, “global citizen” and such. They are already brainwashing our children with this garbage. We are Americans first and foremost, and we will not bow lightly to those who wish to destroy what generations of good and decent people fought and died to protect, namely the idea that Man is endowed by his Creator with freedom to choose his own destiny free of the oppression of a dictator or an elite few. May whatever God you believe in bless our United States.

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CrazyAzBiker
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 8:45pm
The lot of them should be thrown in jail for fraud! They swore to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States and that includes ALL of the Bill of Rights! Once they choose not too they have abandoned the oath and should be at least thrown out of office! Oh how i yearn for the days of tarring and feathering…. if only America still had the balls to stand up for whats right. Well here’s to you social democrats.. May your chains lay lightly upon you and may posterity let us forget you were ever our countrymen… Samuel Adams.

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Bill Wallace
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 7:23pm
2nd amendment was to prevent government from becoming tyrants.

And the government, states they need to eliminate protections of the 2nd amendment, but there is nothing you need to fear from them, as they remove your rights and liberties.

Um…that is exactly the reason the 2nd amendment was put in place. For when the governmnet sought to eliminate your rights, including the 2nd amendment.

Why don’t people grasp that? Democrats are stating they aren’t becoming tyrants as they act tyrannically.

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- zombieocracy
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 10:29pm
  Hey Barry: if you’re not a tyrant, you don’t need to worry about my gun, right?
  
  Report this comment
HI_Don
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 7:02pm
“There are plenty of weapons out there,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said during Thursday’s hearing. “The whole point of this bill is to reduce over time the supply, purchase, and transfer of military type weapons.”

Of course it means nothing that the list of over 2500 specific firearms includes a huge amount of weapons that are not, have not, nor ever will be used by the military. An AR-15 is NOT a military weapon, at best they could use it to hone target practice. No one brings a .22 cal weapon to a military fight. That said – who says the 2nd amendment doesn’t apply to military style weapons – just how do you ensure the support and function of a private militia with low capacity hunting guns, competitive target practice weapons, and toys? When all you have left is a 5 shot revolver and they come for it armed with fully auto 50 cals, armor piercing rounds and tear gas – well what use was the 2nd amendment then?

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Creg Maroney
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 6:52pm
Of course the Senate did… They’ve been conspiring to overthrow the U.S. government (U.S. Constitution) for quite some time now violating their Oath of Office.

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zgomer
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 6:25pm
Just talk and a waste of time…it won’t go anywehere…LOL!

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54smom
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 4:57pm
You all better hope 2014 turns out well for conserv. whoever they may be because if your votes are split the pres. will have his way with you for two very, very, long years.

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Chuck T
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 4:24pm
It isn’t a right if it can be taxed, fee-ed, restricted (except for infringing on another’s rights), or licensed. it is then only a privilege that can be revoked by a capricious government.

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AboveMyPayGrade
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 3:45pm
SHOGUN459, you replied in part to my 2:25pm post with: “He will call upon the Jihad nations that hate America to supply UN troops to “Quell our Rebellions voices”, when it comes time to forcibly disarm us.”

I would HOPE that there are STILL enough patriots left in the Pentagon – or at the least, in our officer field corps – that if Obama ever tried to bring foreign troops to the U.S. to do what our OWN troops won’t to the American people, that at THAT point in time, these patriots would realize beyond ANY possible refutation that Obama is a traitor and an enemy of America of the highest order and would come to the conclusion that it’s either Obama or the survival of the United States of America as a free and sovereign nation, and would take the necessary action at that point to depose Obama.

I would HOPE – and I fervently believe that this WOULD be the case – that the moment that Obama issued such a call, that at least the vast majority of the grunts in our military would immediately spring to arms in defense of the American citizenry and AGAINST the Marxists in Washington DC.

And ANY U.N. troops, WHEREVER they hail from, that come to this country to try to forcibly disarm the American citizenry better plan on bringing body bags with them, a LOT of them – because they’ll be filling them wholesale. And I wonder just how many of them are truly willing to be buried on “infidel” soil, never to return, even as a corpse, to their homelands.

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wopalope
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 3:42pm
So when do “we..the people.” march on Congress?
(It will do no good to march on the WH.)

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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on March 14, 2013 at 3:55pm
  The moment that they actually pass something through both the Senate and the House. I seriously doubt that will happen. But then I also doubted Nazicare would pass either, and here we are today.
  
  Chances are that this will die on the Senate floor. If not it will bonk off of the door of the House without even getting a hearing.
  
  But if they do manage to pass something, we need to march. Armed. During D.C. business hours, when they are in session. And while we’re there, we can politely request that they go ahead and repeal the other 20,000 2nd Amendment infringing laws as well.
  
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AboveMyPayGrade
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 3:36pm
CAVALLO, regarding your 3:05pm reply to my 2:49pm post:

agreed, any Democrat Senators up for re-election next year in purple or red states (and I understand that there are a half-dozen up for re-election next year in states that Romney carried by double digits last year) will be throwing away their political careers to vote yes on Feinstein’s bill. After watching the slaughter from the midterms of 2010 of so many of their Democrat colleagues in the House and Senate, I wonder how many are willing to FOLLOW them over the cliff come next year.

Then again, these same Senators may figure that they’re ALREADY in a mess of political hot water because of their vote in favor of ObamaCare: once 2014 rolls in and people are experiencing the real-world consequences of this atrocity when it is implemented in full starting on January 1, I think there’s going to be a HUMONGOUS backlash against the Democrats who imposed this upon the American public, starting with those up for re-election next year.

If any of these aforementioned Senate Democrats, especially the half-dozen referenced earlier, vote yes on this bill in the full Senate vote, I think it will amount to a public declaration on their part that one way or another, they do not expect to continue to be a U.S. Senator come 2015, either because they expect to be defeated for re-election or will decide, as Dem Senators Jim Webb and Ben Nelson and Kent Conrad did in 2012, to not even try for re-election.

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Arshloch
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 3:16pm
This group of wastrels lead by leeky leahy, little ‘chuckie schumer’ diane frankenstein and a cast of a few other illiterate office occupiers, prove once again that you can educate but you can not instiil intelligence in a pack of dogs. One who can not read, and understand what was read, can not read a simple statement, the government can not infringe on the right to keep and bear arms so, all you senatorial fools; shut up and get to work on the real problem, obama.

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leary1
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 3:10pm
I hope the gun manufacturers will refuse to sell guns and ammo to the feds and governments that try to restrict gun freedom. WE NEED TO SHOW THEM ( pres and senate)WE ARE IN CHARGE NOT THEM, THEY WORK FOR US!! LET`S START CUTTING BACK ON THEM AND WATCH THEM SQUIRM AND MOAN. Since they are cutting our ability to grow and prosper, we should cut theirs!! WE NEED TO DEMAND THEY STOP SPENDING OUR MONEY UNTIL THEY START FUNCTIONING AS THEY ARE SWORN TO DO !!! We also need to pass a bill that forces them to fend for themselves not the police or secret service doing their bidding once they exhaust their FIVE YEAR LIMIT IN OFFICE !!!! THEY WILL CHANGE OVERNIGHT !

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elosogrande
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 3:08pm
If these dolts insist that we don’t need weapons of our own, they should personally guarantee our safety, and use their personal fortunes (and I do mean fortunes) to pay the expense of that guarantee.
I’m sorry, but, when seconds count, the police are only minutes away. If my government will not allowed by my to protect myself and my family, then the useless fools making this decision have to do it for us, and they have to do it every time.

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STREBOR
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 3:00pm
Keep ‘em clean………keep ‘em oiled…….keep ‘em ready………..get plenty of ammo……spend time on the range……..protect what is yours.

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media-bias-steals-elections
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 2:54pm
This is Sen. Feinsten, who not only knows she is a threat to public safety by proposing this legislation, is sending America a message, go ahead, we dare you loose another election? Sen. Feinstein is giving America a sign, and its her finger in the air?

Go ahead Republicans loose, we dare you to loose, your citizens will become defenseless animals to be stalked and hunted by more regulations, we will make sure that our children will not have parents with values that show kids you better grow up to be a good guy with a gun, because your dad is a good guy with a gun?

Back at you Sen. Feinstein, we got our fingers up for Republicans, and its a thumbs up?

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wkw58
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 2:54pm
OK. And so it begins. Molon Labe.

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funjumper
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 2:52pm
just another political stunt that allows the press to focus on something other than their budget or the government spending compulsion.

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progressiveslayer
Posted on March 14, 2013 at 2:51pm
When do they pass the ban on POS progs screwing with the constitution and bill of rights? That’s a measure I could back.

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