Weak Support in the Senate for Senator Feinstein’s Assault Weapons Ban of 2013

Our previous post summarized Senator Feinstein’s proposed Assault Weapons Ban of 2013, following release of the full text of the bill.

In a January 27, 2013 interview on CNN’s State of the Union, Senator Feinstein conceded that getting her bill passed by the Senate – let alone the House — will be an uphill fight because some Democrats as well as most Republicans in the Senate oppose it.

At this time it appears unlikely that Congress will adopt a federal equivalent of the NY SAFE Act to ban so-called assault weapons and large capacity magazines.  Instead, we expect that the focus of Congress will shift to considering requiring universal background checks. 

Many prominent Democratic politicians, including Bill Clinton, have cautioned members of their party to not press for legislation like Feinstein’s proposal.  New York Senator Chuck Schumer – a co-sponsor of Feinstein’s bill – said that while he endorsed a ban on assault weapons and large capacity magazines, he thinks universal background checks will be the easiest measure to pass through the House.  “We’re going to push hard to get that one done and even through the House,” he said.  West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, a Democratic firearm rights advocate with an “A” rating from the NRA, has said that he’s working with both Democratic and Republican Senators to prepare a bill to require universal background checks and talking to the NRA about it.

Any questions you may have about the proposed Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 should be directed to John F. Renzulli or Christopher Renzulli.