Feinstein brings up assault weapons ban again




SEN. Dianne Feinstein is going to take another shot at reinsta- ting the federal assault weap-ons ban that lapsed late last year when it came up for its 10-year renewal.
Gun control has been Feinstein's issue since she was first elected to the Senate in 1992, and it is very personal for her.

Feinstein became San Francisco's mayor on Nov. 27, 1978, when Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk were gunned down at City Hall by Supervisor Dan White. The shooting deaths on July 1, 1993, on the 34th floor at the 101 California St. office building that left eight dead and six wounded came during her first year in the Senate.

The ban should never have been allowed to lapse. Unfortunately, it came up during the presidential election year. President Bush said he would sign the renewal if it reached his desk, but didn't do anything to encourage its passage in Congress.

Last March, the Senate passed the renewal by a vote of 52-47 but it died before it ever got to the House. The election   increased the number of Republicans in the Senate from 51 to 55 — four new votes that probably won't go Feinstein's way.

In 1993, when both houses of Congress were in Democratic hands, the ban narrowly passed.

Feinstein's bill faces even a higher hurdle in the House where Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said they won't even put the issue to a vote.

The ban covers 19 semiautomatic weapons and ammunition clips of more than 10 rounds. Last month, Feinstein cited the shooting deaths of two Los Angeles city workers by a co-worker with an AK-47. She blamed the incident on "the tragic consequences of the ready availability of assault weapons throughout our society."

The National Rifle Association isn't taking her effort seriously. "We are cautiously optimistic," said an NRA spokesman on the chances that Feinstein's bill won't pass this year. But "we take nothing for granted."

The NRA is so opposed to the assault weapons law that they   scrapped their own legislation last March that would have protected gun manufacturers against liability lawsuits rather than let Feinstein's assault weapons ban be attached to it as an amendment. Other amendments that were added would have closed a loophole on gun show sales and one, sponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer, that required trigger locks.

After those amendments were added, the bill was defeated, taking the assault weapons renewal with it. The NRA's legislation is coming up again   and Feinstein and Boxer have their amendments ready to go.

We have supported the assault weapons ban in the past and continue to do so. But realistically, it has very little chance of passing.

Quoted: Feinstein brings up assault weapons ban again SEN. Dianne Feinstein is going to take another shot at reinsta- ting the federal assault weap-ons ban that lapsed late last year when it came up for its 10-year renewal. Gun control has been Feinstein's issue since she was first elected to the Senate in 1992, and it is very personal for her. Feinstein became San Francisco's mayor on Nov. 27, 1978, when Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk were gunned down at City Hall by Supervisor Dan White. The shooting deaths on July 1, 1993, on the 34th floor at the 101 California St. office building that left eight dead and six wounded came during her first year in the Senate. The ban should never have been allowed to lapse. Unfortunately, it came up during the presidential election year. President Bush said he would sign the renewal if it reached his desk, but didn't do anything to encourage its passage in Congress. Last March, the Senate passed the renewal by a vote of 52-47 but it died before it ever got to the House. The election   increased the number of Republicans in the Senate from 51 to 55 — four new votes that probably won't go Feinstein's way. In 1993, when both houses of Congress were in Democratic hands, the ban narrowly passed. Feinstein's bill faces even a higher hurdle in the House where Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said they won't even put the issue to a vote. The ban covers 19 semiautomatic weapons and ammunition clips of more than 10 rounds. Last month, Feinstein cited the shooting deaths of two Los Angeles city workers by a co-worker with an AK-47. She blamed the incident on "the tragic consequences of the ready availability of assault weapons throughout our society." The National Rifle Association isn't taking her effort seriously. "We are cautiously optimistic," said an NRA spokesman on the chances that Feinstein's bill won't pass this year. But "we take nothing for granted." The NRA is so opposed to the assault weapons law that they   scrapped their own legislation last March that would have protected gun manufacturers against liability lawsuits rather than let Feinstein's assault weapons ban be attached to it as an amendment. Other amendments that were added would have closed a loophole on gun show sales and one, sponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer, that required trigger locks. After those amendments were added, the bill was defeated, taking the assault weapons renewal with it. The NRA's legislation is coming up again   and Feinstein and Boxer have their amendments ready to go. We have supported the assault weapons ban in the past and continue to do so. But realistically, it has very little chance of passing.

As I recall it didnt happen that way, they succeeded in attaching it as an amendment to the Gun Industry Lawsuit Protection Bill but then the Republicans killed this bill, which was defeated overwearmingly. Am I wrong?

You are right.

CRC

Why is that whenever I hear about Finswine or Boxturd it makes me sick? These people do not represent me and my family.

8.5 years nad I am out of this state!