Reuters: U.S.: Senate panel delays action on gun control bills

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Senate panel delays action on gun control bills Feb 28th 2013, 19:27 Tweet Share this Email Print Related News Victim's father makes case for U.S. assault weapons ban Wed, Feb 27 2013 Gun control supporter backed by New York mayor wins Chicago vote Tue, Feb 26 2013 In separating gun-control bills, Democrats reveal strategy Tue, Feb 26 2013 Senate panel backs Lew for Treasury secretary Tue, Feb 26 2013 Calpers to sell investments in two gun makers Tue, Feb 19 2013 Analysis & Opinion The school shooting that few remember Can GOP blame Obama for the sequester? Guns are seen inside a display case at the Cabela's store in Fort Worth, Texas, June 26, 2008. Credit: Reuters/Jessica Rinaldi By Thomas Ferraro WASHINGTON | Thu Feb 28, 2013 2:27pm EST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday postponed consideration of four bills to curb gun violence after Republicans said they needed more time to study the proposed ban on military-style assault weapons. The one-week delay by the Democratic-led committee appears unlikely to change the fate of the bills, all of which appear headed to the full Senate for a vote. The move comes a day after the panel heard emotional testimony that included pleas for lawmakers to back the proposed assault weapons ban. Neal Heslin, whose 6-year-old son Jesse Lewis was killed with 19 other children and six adults in the December 14 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, said the death toll would have been lower if the gunman had not had the automatic weapon. But Republicans question whether a ban on assault weapons, which is similar to one that was in effect for a decade before expiring in 2004, would violate Americans' right to bear arms under the U.S. Constitution. Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, the panel's top Republican, noted that during Wednesday's hearing the measure's sponsor, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, asked for suggestions to improve the assault weapons bill. Critics of Feinstein's bill, Republicans and some Democrats, say studies indicate the earlier ban had no impact on the nation's homicide rate. But backers say assault weapons have been the firearm of choice in several U.S. mass shootings in recent years. Besides the bill to ban assault weapons, which faces an uphill fight to pass the full Senate, the other bills call for expanded background checks for prospective gun buyers, a crackdown on the illegal trafficking of firearms, and various improvements to school security. Support generally has been strongest for the background checks bill, but senators have not reached a detailed, bipartisan agreement even on that proposal. Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, said the panel will take up the four bills next Thursday and it could take a few of debate before voting. (Editing by David Lindsey and Vicki Allen) Tweet this Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/ Comments (0) Be the first to comment on reuters.com. Add yours using the box above.

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