A top Democratic lawmaker tried on Thursday to revive a U.S. assault-weapons ban, riding a wave of support for gun control after the killing of 20 children and six adults at a school in Connecticut last month.
Senator Dianne Feinstein and several other Democrats said they were introducing a bill to ban semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips.
Editor's Note:
Obama's Gun Grab — Do You Agree? Vote Here Now
The sweeping legislation bans the sale and manufacture of more than 150 types of semi-automatic weapons with military-style features. It also bans magazines holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition and requires people who already own assault rifles to use secure storage and safety devices and bars them from selling high-capacity clips.
Specifically, the sale, transfer, manufacture and import of all semi-automatic rifles and pistols that can accept detachable magazines and have at least one military feature would be prohibited if the bill became law.
Feinstein, who authored the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban that Congress declined to renew 10 years later, displayed weapons that would be banned, such as a Bushmaster automatic rifle, at Thursday's news conference.
Some are currently against the law in the District of Columbia, and Democratic sources told CNN the California Democrat coordinated with police on displaying the illegal weapons.
NBC's David Gregory was recently investigated for holding a banned ammunition magazine on the network's "Meet the Press" program broadcast from Washington, CNN pointed out. No charges were brought in that case.
The bill includes a grandfather clause that would exempt assault weapons "lawfully possessed" on the date of enactment. Background checks would be required prior to the sale or transfer of weapons exempted under the clause.
It faces stiff opposition in Congress as well as from the National Rifle Association, the main U.S. lobby for gun manufacturers, and from many Americans.
"Getting this bill signed into law will be an uphill battle, and I recognize that - but it is a battle worth having," Feinstein said.
The legislation mirrors some of the proposals that President Barack Obama offered last week as he vowed to make gun control a top priority in his second term.
Editor's Note:
Obama's Gun Grab — Do You Agree? Vote Here Now
Banning assault weapons is seen as the most unlikely part of Obama's gun control package to pass Congress. The previous ban expired in 2004 after 10 years.
With 310 million guns in civilian hands, the United States is one of the world's most heavily armed countries. There were 11,000 homicides with firearms in the United States last year.
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