An new assault weapons ban to replace the one that expired in 2004 was proposed in the Senate Thursday.
Senator Dianne Feinstein of California unveiled her plan that bans a range of firearms and high-capacity magazines. The legislation comes almost six weeks after the mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
Feinstein says there's just been too many shooting rampages involving these types of weapons. "Massacres have taken place in businesses, law practices, malls, movie theaters, and especially schools. These massacres don't seem to stop. They continue on. Columbine, Virginia Tech, Aurora, Tucson, Oak Creek. The common thread in these shootings is each gunman used a semi-auto assault weapon or large capacity ammunition magazines. Military-style assault weapons have but one purpose and, in my view, that's a military purpose, to hold at the hip, possibly, to spray fire to be able to kill large numbers," said Senator Feinstein.
Supporters say the bill will not affect hunting or sporting firearms. Instead, the bill protects hunters and sportsmen by protecting 2,200 specifically named weapons used for hunting or sporting purposes.
Feinstein offered the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban. Despite a push by the
White House and Democrats for tougher gun control measures, Feinstein's
full proposal is given little chance of winning Congressional approval.
