House takes up repeal of assault weapons ban

March 22, 1996
Web posted at: 12:40 p.m. EST

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In what is largely a political gesture, the House of Representatives is expected on Friday to pass a measure to repeal the two-year-old ban on assault weapons.

The bill is considered dead on arrival. The Senate is not expected to approve the measure. The White House has vowed to veto it, and neither house appears to have enough votes to override a veto.

The vote is likely to have an impact on the campaign trail even if it never lands in the law books.

The National Rifle Association persuaded its allies on Capitol Hill to schedule a roll-call vote on the repeal measure to see where members of Congress stand on the issue.

House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, said the vote is not solely NRA-driven. Members who ran on the issue in 1994 want their constituents to know they've kept their word, he said.

Opponents included members of the Clinton administration. They are taking aim at the move to repeal the ban which covers 19 styles of firearms and dozens of similar weapons as well as large-capacity ammunition magazines like the one used by the assailant in a Long Island commuter train attack three years ago.

President Clinton, who has promised to veto the measure if it makes it to the Oval Office, said Thursday the measure would "endanger law enforcement officials if it does pass. It will cost more citizens their lives if it does pass. The only people who will be benefited are people who engage in illegal activity."

Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, Vice President Al Gore and Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick planned to voice their opposition to the measure hours before the House was to vote on it Friday afternoon.

Never mind that the repeal will not likely become law, the very notion that it is coming to a vote, is stirring passions of activists on both sides of the issue.

Rep. Charles Schumer, D-New York, an author of the 1994 assault-weapons ban, called an impromptu hearing on the issue Thursday. Among those who testified was a man whose wife was killed with an assault weapon.

"This is what these things do, this is what the vote's about tomorrow folks. Let it be real clear. It's about breaking the bond between a mother and a daughter. My wife took five bullets in the back from one of these things. Megan was 10 months old, this is what the vote's about," said witness Steve Sposato during the hearing. (298K AIFF sound or 298K WAV sound)

Supporters of the repeal say crime victims are misdirecting their anger.

"Taking guns away from law-abiding citizens makes absolutely no sense. The real answer to cutting the violent crime problem in the United States of America is holding violent criminals responsible for their behavior," said Rep. Gil Gutknecht, R-Minnesota, in an interview with CNN Friday. (170K AIFF sound or 170K WAV sound)

Rep. Nita Lowey, D-New York, took exception with her colleague's opinion. "The assault weapons ban is important, and it's an outrage that the NRA controls the leadership of this Congress." (221K AIFF sound or 221K WAV sound)

For its part, the NRA is unwavering in its support of the repeal.

"We've lost freedom for somebody to buy the firearm of their choice," NRA Chief Lobbyist Tanya Metaksa told CNN Friday. "What we've lost is the right to self-defense ... The American people want the right to defend themselves against the true assault weapons -- the two-legged variety, the ones that come after you with anything they can get, including a gun, a knife or a baseball bat."

Last year Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and House Speaker Newt Gingrich promised the NRA a vote on whether to repeal the weapons ban.

"I am not optimistic there is sufficient support in the Senate to pass the repeal," Dole said in a statement issued Thursday. He said he would meet with colleagues after the House vote Friday to decide on "the best course of action."

Related story

• Dems to split up on assault weapons vote

Feedback Send us your comments. Selected responses are posted daily.

| CONTENTS | SEARCH | CNN HOME PAGE | MAIN US NEWS PAGE |

---

Copyright © 1996 Cable News Network, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.