WASHINGTON — After sitting on the sidelines of the gun-control debate for almost all of his first term, President Obama yesterday called for sweeping gun reform, including a renewed ban on assault weapons.
Two days after speaking at a memorial for the shooting victims in Newtown, Conn., White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama is “actively supportive” of a Capitol Hill push for an assault weapons ban.
“And there are other elements of gun law — gun legislation that he could support. People have talked about high-capacity gun — ammunition clips, for example,” Carney said.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said she plans to reintroduce her bill banning assault weapons early next month.
In the aftermath of the school massacre, Democratic lawmakers — including those backed previously by the NRA — have put gun control at the top of their legislative list next year.
Obama has tapped Vice President Joe Biden to lead a White House effort to determine what measures are needed.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) called on the Senate yesterday to immediately pass a ban on high-capacity assault-weapon magazines.
“The Senate shouldn’t wait another day,” Lautenberg wrote in a letter to colleagues. “High-capacity magazines are used by soldiers fighting wars. They do not belong on our streets and in our communities.”