Dianne Feinstein Prefers Massive Police Presence to Individuals With Assault Rifles During Boston Manhunt

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., leaves the Senate floor after speaking about gun legislation on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, April 17, 2013. (AP)

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the leading voice for a so-called assault weapons ban, on Sunday dismissed the idea that Boston-area residents may have wanted a gun in their homes during the manhunt for the second bombing suspect.

Instead, she pointed to the massive police presence on the scene that kept people safe.

Residents were urged to remain indoors as police hunted 19-year-old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who was ultimately captured Friday night after being holed up in a boat parked in a backyard.

"Some may have [wanted guns], yes," Feinstein said on "Fox News Sunday." "But if where you're going is 'do they need an assault weapon?' I don't think so."

Fox News' Chris Wallace asked if individuals shouldn't have right to decide for themselves what types of guns to have in their home.

"How about a machine gun then?" Feinstein asked. "We did away with machine guns because of how they're used. I think we should do away with assault weapons because of how they're used...you can use a 12-gauge shotgun and have a good defensive effect and there's the element of surprise."

"Now you've got police all over the place in Watertown, so I don't really think this is applicable. I think there are people who want to make this argument," she added.

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