Report: Senate Democrats Will Vote to Ban “Assault Weapons” on Tuesday

Report: Senate Democrats Will Vote to Ban “Assault Weapons” on Tuesday

Senate Democrats are likely to vote on an assault weapons ban Tuesday.

A proposed ban on military-style assault weapons faces a key test vote as early as Thursday when the committee considering gun control legislation is scheduled to decide whether to refer the proposal to the full Senate.

The Senate Judiciary Committee released a list of four bills it plans to consider at a business meeting Thursday morning, but Senate Republicans could use the panel’s procedural rules to delay the meeting for a week. As with most Senate proceedings, the list of bills could change — some might be dropped or others added to the list — but the Senate is clearly on the verge of beginning the formal process of reviewing legislation introduced in the wake of the Newtown, Conn. school shooting.

Whenever the committee meets, it will consider the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013, introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), which goes beyond a similar ban that expired in 2004 and covers nearly 160 specific military-style weapons. Among many other specific provisions, the bill also would limit the size of ammunition clips to devices that can hold no more than 10 rounds.

Members of both parties have said they cannot support the ban, believing it goes too far and would infringe on Second Amendment rights. But the panel — divided between 10 Democrats and eight Republicans — could eventually refer the bill to the full Senate on a party-line vote.

The Senate bill has absolutely no chance of passing the US House of Representatives.

The Washington Post reported: Assault weapons ban could get committee vote Thursday

A proposed ban on military-style assault weapons: Lawmakers unveil new assault weapons ban