Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois will hold a hearing on gun violence Feb. 12, as Chicago ended January with the highest number of killings with guns.
The Democrat chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee’s subpanel on the Constitution, civil rights and human rights,
Politico reports.
The Judiciary Committee is to begin working on new gun-control legislation by the end of the month — and deciding whether the assault-weapons ban proposed last month by California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein should be included is a factor, Politico reports.
Durbin backs the assault-weapons ban.
Feinstein, also a Judiciary Committee member, will hold her own subcommittee hearing on the issue. No date has yet been set, Politico reports.
More than 500 shooting deaths occurred in Chicago last year.
In January alone, over 40 people were killed by guns — the highest for one month in a decade — including a 15-year-old girl who marched in President Barack Obama’s inaugural parade last week, Politico reports.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a former House member and White House chief of staff, has proposed additional restrictions to gun-control legislation that is considered among the toughest in the country, Politico reports.
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