Democrat Feinstein to introduce ban on assault weapons

[kpete]

Source: The Hill

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) will introduce a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips on Thursday.

Feinstein’s bill will expand the criteria for classifying military-style assault weapons from a 1994 law, which lapsed a decade later. Her new measure will ban the sale of about 150 types of firearms, including some rifles and handguns, as well as the sale of high-capacity magazines, according to USA Today.

The bill will exempt firearms used for hunting and will grandfather in guns and magazines owned before the law’s potential enactment. However, the grandfathered weapons will be logged in a national registry.


The measure is expected to face a tough fight in the Senate, with many GOP lawmakers and the nation’s gun lobby vowing to oppose any new restrictions on gun ownership.






Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/278993-report-feinstein-to-introduce-assault-weapons-ban-thursday

[Hawaii Hiker]

1. And just how can Democrats expect to pass this WITHOUT

first passing meaningful FILIBUSTER REFORM,

[hack89]

2. Senate Dems don't have the votes to pass an AWB regardless of filibuster reform

Last edited Thu Jan 24, 2013, 02:02 PM - Edit history (1)

If there is a path to new gun laws, it has to come through West Virginia and a dozen other states with Democratic senators like Mr. Manchin who are confronting galvanized constituencies that view any effort to tighten gun laws as an infringement.

On Thursday a group of Democratic senators led by Dianne Feinstein of California plans to introduce a bill that would outlaw more than 100 different assault weapons, setting up what promises to be a fraught and divisive debate over gun control in Congress in the coming weeks. But a number of centrist lawmakers like Mr. Manchin have already thrown the measure’s fate into question, saying that all they are willing to support for now is a stronger background check system.

After talking with the group for nearly two hours, Mr. Manchin left the meeting saying he was not at all comfortable with supporting the assault weapons ban favored by many of his colleagues in Congress.

Mr. Manchin is just the beginning of gun control advocates’ worries. Of far greater concern are Democrats who are up for re-election in 2014. Those include senators like Max Baucus of Montana, who was awarded an A+ rating from the N.R.A. Mr. Baucus has worded his comments on the subject carefully, bracketing them with gun rights-friendly language, like saying the “culture of violence” needs to be seriously examined along with any changes to the law.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/24/us/politics/democratic-senators-face-gun-owners-roused-by-talk-of-new-laws.html?pagewanted=all

[nick of time]

3. Thank you, I was just going to say that.

There are several red state dems who won't go along with another AWB, not if they want to keep their jobs, that's just the reality of it.

[John2]

4. Well I was

listening to her and I think the men need to get behind the women to show solidarity. Lapierre ain't nothing to me. I think his bark is too big for his breeches. That is the kind of mobilization that we need like the President claims. We beat them in an Election and we can beat them at this too if people mobilize. Boehner thinks thje president is trying to annihilate him. Maybe we should accommodate him.

[nick of time]

5. The reality is that these red state Dem. Sen.

are listening to their constituents and know that if they vote against their wishes, they will be out of a job come Nov. 2014 and replaced by a repuke, how does that help with other issues such as single payer, gay rights, pro choice, social justice, social equality?

The reality is that an AWB won't pass the Sen. because of those Dems in the red states.

[madville]

9. Especially not in a mid-term where turnout is typically lower

It would be a recipe for disaster. The pro-gunners would be super motivated and let's face it, the election's just not as exciting without President Obama on the ticket so turnout for our side could be lackluster.

[nick of time]

10. So right.

And the mid terms has typically been unfavorable to a President's party and to add this ill fated AWB just adds fuel to the fire.

[derby378]

23. My point exactly

Constitutional issues aside for just one moment, Feinstein's bill is a Democrat killer. Just remember what a less-stringent version of the ban did back in 1994; we're still feeling the aftereffects from that seismic shift.

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. The same way that it will pass in the House

[appal_jack]

6. Bad Bill, will call my Senators to oppose

Diane Feinstein is doing more to help Republicans than the RNC ever dreamed of doing. My one Democratic Senator, Kay Hagan, needs to oppose this vigorously in order to even be in the running for reelection in 2014. And We North Carolinians need every Democrat we can muster in order to protect reproductive freedom, labor rights, and so many other important issues.

Feinstein needs to stfu and go back to counting her $$$ from 'defense' industries. She is a hypocrite, an authoritarian, and an idiot.

Gun bans, no matter how couched in Orwellian newspeak such as 'common-sense,' 'safety,' and/or 'won't affect the hunters,' are losing issues for Democrats. Why are some (Feinstein especially) so committed to repeating the mistAkes of 1994?

-app

[John2]

14. A lotta your friends

in North Carolina must be gun nuts. North Carolina does have a problem with homicides and gangs too. I know some people in North Carolina would support it. Especially if it puts a dent in rightwing extremists in the State. I wish we could ban them too.

[nick of time]

15. What's your definition of a "gun nut"?

[John2]

17. Somebody who thinks

they need a semi-automatic and 30 round magazines to protect themselves against an intruder. Lapierre fits the Bill. He thinks the U.S. Army will invade with a Stealth jet. The only semi-autmatic or assault weapon I needed was when I was in the Army. I knew I needed it then but not in the USA. If those nuts keep thinking the way thjey are thinking, then I might need one myself the way they keep acting delusional. They just might go off the deep end if they haven't already.

[nick of time]

19. That's a mighty broad brush you're painting with there.

There are literally millions of semi auto rifles and handguns in civilians hands and 99% of them are never used in any crime at all.
I have an AR-15 that I use on my farm to shoot coyotes that attempt to raid my chickens and ducks, it never leaves my farm and stays in my gun safe when not in use, I also have a .22 rifle, a .410 shotgun, a 12 ga. shotgun, and a couple of handguns, this doesn't make me a gun nut.
Fact is that if they banned all military style semi auto rifles tomorrow, I'd just go by a tube fed semi auto rifle.

[appal_jack]

18. Here's an example for you...

Normally, I'd write-off & ignore anyone using the loaded & divisive term "gun nuts," but with this ridiculous legislation on the table, we can't afford to be this fractious. I work in a public, educational institution, in a rural location. Yesterday, I had lunch with four co-workers (4 men & 1 woman in total), and the subject of gun legislation came up. Of the five around the table, at least two of us owned so-called "assault weapons" (the other three did not say what they owned). Three of us have our concealed carry permits (including the one woman), one said he intends get his soon, and the other did not comment one way or another. All of us own at least one firearm.

Later on that same day I was in the front office with four women- three secretaries and one educator. One woman mentioned being followed while jogging along our town's greenway. One secretary said she kept a pistol at home, but would like to get her cc permit. Another secretary said she carries a tazer, but chooses not to own a firearm. The third secretary has her cc permit already, and took the class from the same instructor as I. None was the least bit concerned to hear that I have my cc permit, and sometimes carry where its legal to do so.

So if you want to write us off as "gun nuts," feel free to do so. But you need to know that you're writing-off a fair proportion of public-sector workers in the education field. The people in my office are some of the most progressive around: while talking about reproductive freedom, gay rights, labor issues, and many other topics, there is broad agreement on the liberal side of those topics.

Do you really want to alienate so many allies over gun control?

-app

[Third Doctor]

7. Even if they had they votes it would not a pass

because of the silent fillibuster. Wasn't Feinstein one of the Senators who would not support changing the Filibuster rules? So what does she hope to acheive? This is all window dressing now.

[dmosh42]

20. My thoughts exactly! Feinstein just another bullshitter!

[Lurks Often]

8. A VERY good way to cost Democrats the Presidency in 2016 & Senate & House seats in 2014

Here is a list of states where gun ownership is common, popular and an important issue, that voted for President Obama in 2012:
FL (29 EV), VA (13 EV), OH (18 EV), PA (20 EV), NV (6 EV), CO (9 EV), NM (5 EV), IA (6 EV), WI (10 EV),
MN (10) & MI (16 EV) and maybe not all of the states would go Republican, many would, especially FL, VA, OH & PA.

Pass gun control at the Federal level and expect the Republicans to make gains in the Senate & the House and to win the Presidency in 2016.

[John2]

11. Who were

the Demographics in those three states you mentioned that supported President Obama in the Election? Did people who support the gun Lobby actually vote for President Obama? I would ask the same question about those other states also? The Democrats have a good ground operation and know about their supporters just like the Republican organizations. Do you have actual statistics of gun owners that voted for this President? The coalition that put him in office were African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, young people, Gays, women and more Liberal whites. Wouldn't gun owners be Republican voters already?

[nick of time]

13. You think that only repukes are gun owners?

[John2]

21. No I don't but

I think the majority must be the way they are acting. I know how to use almost any weapon and know what different guns are used for. I don't need an assault weapon to kill a poor deer or to target practice with. You can always join a club if you like to target practice too. You can also collect a type of gun if that is your hobby but you don't need the ammunition just to collect it, unless you plan on using it on somebody like that murderer in Newton. The way Lapierre is talking sounds like an insurrection against an elected government, just because he don't like an election. I would keep an eye on any rightwing extremists. That is how the Nazi Party started and before you know it, they took over. His bold talk about guns and disrespecting an elected official represents the threat to me. Two can play his game. He needs to tone it down and respect our elected officials as far as I'm concerned. I agree with those who say the violence has went too far. The President has the authority to influence Public Policy and the second Amendment rights are being abused by people like Lapierre. My opinion of any Constitutional Rights given to a citizen of this country comes from what the people agree to. They can easily be taken away if you abuse them, just like the right to vote. The right to own humans as property was taken away too. That is what I think of Lapierre's rights. If he abuses them in any way, take them away with our approval of course.

[Lurks Often]

16. Gun owner does NOT equal Republican

All of the states I listed voted for President Obama in 2012.

Many rank & file union members, especially in the automotive and mining industries are pro-gun.

Prior to the election, the President did NOT come out strongly in favor of gun control, it was a topic he remained fairly quiet on during his first term. Additionally Romney was never considered especially pro-gun, so it was mostly a non-issue among swing voters who consider gun control a negative thing.

My prediction is that the gun control agenda will cost the Democrats heavily in 2014 & 2016. Guess we'll have to wait almost 2 years and almost 4 years to find out for sure.

[Recursion]

22. NYT of the presser

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/25/us/politics/senator-unveils-bill-to-limit-semiautomatic-arms.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0