SoCal Lawmakers Throw Support Behind Assault Weapons Ban
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A Burbank congressman Thursday said he expects lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to support an effort by Sen. Dianne Feinstein to renew a federal ban on assault weapons.
Feinstein introduced legislation in Washington that would also outlaw high-capacity ammunition magazines in the aftermath of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., that left 20 children and six adults dead.
Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO he remains optimistic that the GOP-controlled House will pass Feinstein's proposal.
Lawmaker expects House to OK Feinstein legislation
"If the President goes out there and goes over the heads of the Congress, and makes the appeal directly to the American people, and then members of Congress hear that appeal, then the question is will Republican leadership actually take it up for a vote?" Schiff said.
Schiff himself is sponsoring legislation to increase penalties for illegal gun sales with the introduction of the Straw Purchaser Penalty Enhancement Act, which would create a new two-year sentence for certain "straw purchasers" of firearms.
KNX 1070's Margaret Carrero reports in addition to members of Congress moving to support Feinstein, City Council Members Eric Garcetti and Paul Koretz on Thursday called for a swift passage of the federal assault weapons ban.
Garcetti, Koretz back Feinstein legislation
Garcetti and Koretz authored Council resolutions in the wake of the Newtown shootings to put the City of Los Angeles' formal support behind Feinstein's bill and President Obama's expansive gun control package.
"L.A. has some of the toughest gun laws in the nation, but assault weapons from other states aren't blocked by our city limits," Garcetti said. "To protect our local neighborhoods, we need a federal solution."
The National Rifle Association denounced Feinstein's proposal, calling the legislative effort "disappointing but not surprising".
