House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday told a gun control rally that Democrats will plan to push legislation banning 'assault...
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday told a gun control rally that Democrats will plan to push legislation banning 'assault weapons,' in what would be the most aggressive response so far to last week's elementary school massacre that killed 19 children.
Republicans have signaled their opposition to restricting the general availability of guns - and some opponents say there is no workable definition for 'assault rifles.'
But with the nation once again wondering why America must suffer so many mass shootings, politicians on both sides are under pressure to act.
Speaking at an anti-gun violence event in her home town of San Francisco, Pelosi reeled off a long list of actions.
They include legislation that would ban high-capacity magazines and to better alert the public to what she called 'active shooter situations.'
'And then as we get through those, we will be having a hearing and marking up the assault weapon ban following all of that,' she said.
'So we just are trying to try to hit it at every possible way.
'Of course we want the Senate to pass the background check legislation which will save more lives than any of the initiatives we have.'
Nancy Pelosi addressed an anti-gun rally in her home town of San Francisco on Wednesday, where she said House Democrats would press ahead with an assault weapons ban
Pelosi made her comments as funerals continued for the 19 children and two teachers shot dead last week in Uvalde, Texas. Pallbearers are seen here carrying a casket during a burial service for teacher Irma Garcia and husband, Joe, at Hillcrest Cemetery
Flowers, toys, and other objects to remember the victims of the deadliest U.S. school mass shooting of the past decade in Uvalde, Texas
House Democrats are already planning a vote next week on 'red flag' legislation, which allows a judge to ban dangerous individuals from having a firearm, and the Judiciary committee is holding an emergency session on Thursday to mark up right gun-violence bills, which includes measures to raise the minimum age for buying certain weapons to 21.
'Let it all of us do everything we can for the survival of our children,' said Pelosi.
The latest push comes after an 18-year-old man, armed with a military-style rifle, went berserk at the Robb Elementary School, in Uvalde, Texas.
In all 21 people died, including two teachers.
A handful of Republican lawmakers has come around to the idea of banning such dangerous weapons, including Rep. Adam Kinzinger.
'I have opposed a ban fairly recently. I think I’m open to a ban now, he told CNN on Sunday when asked why private individuals needed 'weapons of war.'
The Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 expired after 10 years. Democrats see an updated version as a priority, but know they are unlikely to get such a measure through the Senate.
Republicans see improving security at schools and tackling mental health problems as a more pressing need than restricting the availability of guns.
Former President Donald Trump took up the call for action on Friday when he addressed members of the National Rifle Association.
'Surely we can all agree our schools should not be the softest target our school should be the single hardest target in our country,' he said at their annual meeting in Houston, Texas.
'And that's why as part of a comprehensive school safety plan, it's time to finally allow highly trained teachers to safely and discreetly concealed carry, let them concealed carry.'
That received short shrift from the White House, which instead said the president was considering executive actions on guns.
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday: 'Though there's been conversation about hardening schools, that is not something that he believes in.
'He believes that we should be able to give our teachers the resources to be able to do the job that they're meant to do at schools.'
Biden is once again facing political opposition and structural obstacles in the Senate as he tries to institute new gun control measures.
'The president has done everything that he can from from from the federal government,' said Jean-Pierre. 'We are looking at other executive actions that we can possibly do.
'This president has done more executive actions at this point than any other president. But it's not up to him alone. He cannot do this alone.'
He and the first lady visited Robb Elementary School on Sunday to pay their respects to the victims.
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