Dems seek to amend gun bill
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Democrats plan to force votes on an assault weapons ban and requiring background checks at gun shows.
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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Legislation that protects gun manufacturers and distributors against lawsuits over gun crimes passed its first Senate test Wednesday. But Democrats said the cost to Republicans will be public votes on extending the assault weapons ban and requiring comprehensive background checks at gun shows.
The bill providing immunity from suits won the support of 75 senators in a test vote, and opponents acknowledged it has the backing to pass when they get to the final vote on Tuesday. Still, several Democrats and Republicans plan to force votes on less popular gun measures.
"We all know this underlying bill has legs. That's why we want to get some amendments on there," said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California.
Democrats on Tuesday will force votes on a plan that deals with gun shows, where unlicensed sellers do not have to check buyers' backgrounds. They also want to extend for 10 more years the ban on assault weapons, which expires in September.
"If we can't amend this bill to add the assault weapons ban, we're not going to have another vehicle this year," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York.
But the bill's Republican supporters insist that any attempt to make changes would simply amount to an attempt to kill the bill. For example, the GOP-controlled House already has said it does not plan to approve an extension of the assault weapons ban.
Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, a sponsor of the bill, said the amendments were an "attempt to divert legislation and delay final consideration."
The White House, which has indicated support for the assault weapons ban and the gun show measure, called on the Senate to pass the legislation without amendments.
"Any amendment that would delay enactment of the bill beyond this year is unacceptable," according to a White House statement released late Tuesday.
Democrats took that statement as an indication that President Bush was backing off his support for those two separate measures. "For the president to say he's for the assault weapons ban and act against it, that is a flip-flop if I've ever seen one," Schumer said.
Republicans, along with some Senate Democrats, have pushed for the gun immunity legislation for some time. Gun advocates say firearm manufacturers make legal products and should not have to spend millions of dollars fighting off suits.
Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, agreed to get behind the legislation after gun supporters agreed that firearms makers and distributors would not be immune to suits involving defective products or illegal sales.
But renewing the 1994 assault weapons prohibition also is a Democratic priority this year.
Schumer and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, the original sponsor in the Senate, say they are close to getting the votes they need to get it added to the gun show bill. They picked up support Tuesday from GOP Sens. John Warner of Virginia, Mike DeWine of Ohio and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island.
Copyright 2004 The
Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
