Senate OKs Assault Weapons Ban Extension
Assoicated Press | 2 Mar 04 | JESSE J. HOLLAND
WASHINGTON - The Senate agreed Tuesday to extend a ban on military-style assault weapons and to require background checks for all buyers at private gun shows, defying the gun industry, the White House and the Senate's own Republican leaders.
The two provisions were embedded in Republican legislation that would deny crime victims the ability to sue gunmakers and dealers, a strategy aimed at pressuring the GOP-dominated House to accept the restrictions to gain passage of the gunmaker-immunity bill.
Underlining the importance of the Senate vote to Democrats, presidential contenders John Kerry of Massachusetts and John Edwards of North Carolina broke away from the campaign trail to cast their first votes of the year, joining the 52-47 majority on the assault weapons ban and the 53-46 majority on the gun show bill.
A dozen Republican senators voted for one or both of the provisions, allowing minority Democrats to gain the victories.
"This is sensible gun safety legislation," said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I. "Now the question is, will the Republicans in the House, and Democrats, be allowed to vote on this?"
Republican House leaders, including Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas, have said they don't plan on voting on an assault weapons ban extension. But the gunmaker-immunity package has been a priority of the White House, the National Rifle Association and conservative groups who say the gun industry is being sued out of existence for making a legal product.
"It is really time that we say that enough is enough," said Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, the sponsor of the gunmaker-immunity bill. "It is the individual who is responsible for the crime, not someone else."
President Bush has called for the Senate to drop the Democratic amendments despite saying earlier that he supported both to ensure the lawsuit immunity bill moves quickly through Congress.
"The president is a strong supporter of stopping frivolous lawsuits and stopping lawsuit abuse. That's the context in which he views this legislation," spokesman Scott McClellan said. "Some are simply more interested in undermining that piece of legislation than they are in necessarily getting the other legislation passed."
The assault weapons measure would renew the ban on the manufacture and importation of at least 19 types of common military-style assault weapons for 10 years. The current ban expires on Sept. 13.
The "gun show loophole" measure would require all buyers at private gun shows to go through a government background check. Under current law, unlicensed gun dealers at private shows are not required to ask for government background checks before selling weapons.
Supporters argued that in that way people who normally wouldn't be able to buy guns can get dangerous weapons. "Criminals and terrorists are exploiting this obvious loophole in our gun safety laws," said Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona.
Democrats plan to pressure Bush to pressure the House. "The Senate sent a clear message today. ... It's time for the president to do the same," said Sen. Charles Schumer of New York. "With one phone call, the president can make this happen."
The Democrats say they will scuttle the immunity bill if Senate Republican leaders don't guarantee the assault weapons ban and gun show provision will be part of the final package.
When asked if House Republicans want the immunity bill badly enough to agree to the Democratic amendments, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said: "That's the strategic question that's going to have to be answered."
A few Republicans voted with the Democrats on both of their measures, most notably Senate Armed Services Chairman John Warner of Virginia. Warner, who voted against the gun ban in 1994, said the pleading from his constituents and law enforcement officials from around his state persuaded him to vote for renewing the assault weapons ban.
"We hear you, Mr. and Mrs. America," Warner said. "You sent us a message, and the Senate responded. We hear you, law enforcement, you sent us a message, and the Senate responded."
Assoicated Press | 2 Mar 04 | JESSE J. HOLLAND
WASHINGTON - The Senate agreed Tuesday to extend a ban on military-style assault weapons and to require background checks for all buyers at private gun shows, defying the gun industry, the White House and the Senate's own Republican leaders.
The two provisions were embedded in Republican legislation that would deny crime victims the ability to sue gunmakers and dealers, a strategy aimed at pressuring the GOP-dominated House to accept the restrictions to gain passage of the gunmaker-immunity bill.
Underlining the importance of the Senate vote to Democrats, presidential contenders John Kerry of Massachusetts and John Edwards of North Carolina broke away from the campaign trail to cast their first votes of the year, joining the 52-47 majority on the assault weapons ban and the 53-46 majority on the gun show bill.
A dozen Republican senators voted for one or both of the provisions, allowing minority Democrats to gain the victories.
"This is sensible gun safety legislation," said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I. "Now the question is, will the Republicans in the House, and Democrats, be allowed to vote on this?"
Republican House leaders, including Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas, have said they don't plan on voting on an assault weapons ban extension. But the gunmaker-immunity package has been a priority of the White House, the National Rifle Association and conservative groups who say the gun industry is being sued out of existence for making a legal product.
"It is really time that we say that enough is enough," said Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, the sponsor of the gunmaker-immunity bill. "It is the individual who is responsible for the crime, not someone else."
President Bush has called for the Senate to drop the Democratic amendments despite saying earlier that he supported both to ensure the lawsuit immunity bill moves quickly through Congress.
"The president is a strong supporter of stopping frivolous lawsuits and stopping lawsuit abuse. That's the context in which he views this legislation," spokesman Scott McClellan said. "Some are simply more interested in undermining that piece of legislation than they are in necessarily getting the other legislation passed."
The assault weapons measure would renew the ban on the manufacture and importation of at least 19 types of common military-style assault weapons for 10 years. The current ban expires on Sept. 13.
The "gun show loophole" measure would require all buyers at private gun shows to go through a government background check. Under current law, unlicensed gun dealers at private shows are not required to ask for government background checks before selling weapons.
Supporters argued that in that way people who normally wouldn't be able to buy guns can get dangerous weapons. "Criminals and terrorists are exploiting this obvious loophole in our gun safety laws," said Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona.
Democrats plan to pressure Bush to pressure the House. "The Senate sent a clear message today. ... It's time for the president to do the same," said Sen. Charles Schumer of New York. "With one phone call, the president can make this happen."
The Democrats say they will scuttle the immunity bill if Senate Republican leaders don't guarantee the assault weapons ban and gun show provision will be part of the final package.
When asked if House Republicans want the immunity bill badly enough to agree to the Democratic amendments, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said: "That's the strategic question that's going to have to be answered."
A few Republicans voted with the Democrats on both of their measures, most notably Senate Armed Services Chairman John Warner of Virginia. Warner, who voted against the gun ban in 1994, said the pleading from his constituents and law enforcement officials from around his state persuaded him to vote for renewing the assault weapons ban.
"We hear you, Mr. and Mrs. America," Warner said. "You sent us a message, and the Senate responded. We hear you, law enforcement, you sent us a message, and the Senate responded."