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| Senators clash over assault weapons ban as Newtown father calls for action | Senators clash over assault weapons ban as Newtown father calls for action |
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| The father of one of the 20 children killed in the Newtown shooting urged members of Congress to adopt proposed gun control reforms in their entirety on Wednesday after an emotional and heated Senate hearing. | The father of one of the 20 children killed in the Newtown shooting urged members of Congress to adopt proposed gun control reforms in their entirety on Wednesday after an emotional and heated Senate hearing. |
| Neil Heslin broke down repeatedly as made a plea for action, recounting the day of the massacre in which his son Jesse, 6, died. Many members of the public in the packed committee room wept openly as they listened to him. | Neil Heslin broke down repeatedly as made a plea for action, recounting the day of the massacre in which his son Jesse, 6, died. Many members of the public in the packed committee room wept openly as they listened to him. |
| "Jesse was the love of my life," said Heslin as he described dropping his son off at school on the day of the shooting. | "Jesse was the love of my life," said Heslin as he described dropping his son off at school on the day of the shooting. |
| "That was the last I saw of Jesse as he ducked around the corner. Prior to that when he was getting out of the truck he hugged me and held me and I could still feel that hug and pat on the back and he said everything's going to be OK dad. It's all going to be OK," Heslin said."It wasn't OK. I have to go home at night to an empty house without my son." | "That was the last I saw of Jesse as he ducked around the corner. Prior to that when he was getting out of the truck he hugged me and held me and I could still feel that hug and pat on the back and he said everything's going to be OK dad. It's all going to be OK," Heslin said."It wasn't OK. I have to go home at night to an empty house without my son." |
| The Senate judiciary committee was examining proposed legislation that would ban 157 varieties of semi-automatic assault weapons, leaving about 2,000 other varieties available for sports shooting. Other proposed legislation includes expanded background checks and new mental health measures. | The Senate judiciary committee was examining proposed legislation that would ban 157 varieties of semi-automatic assault weapons, leaving about 2,000 other varieties available for sports shooting. Other proposed legislation includes expanded background checks and new mental health measures. |
| But the bill to ban automatic weapons, introduced last month by Californian Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein, has almost no chance of being adopted by the full Senate. Republican after Republican on the committee lined up to denounce the plan, saying similar reform in the past had failed to make an impact. | But the bill to ban automatic weapons, introduced last month by Californian Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein, has almost no chance of being adopted by the full Senate. Republican after Republican on the committee lined up to denounce the plan, saying similar reform in the past had failed to make an impact. |
| Heslin told reporters after the meeting that he did not know what would happen to the proposed legislation but admitted it was an uphill struggle. | Heslin told reporters after the meeting that he did not know what would happen to the proposed legislation but admitted it was an uphill struggle. |
| Asked what his reaction would be if the ban failed to make it to the statute book, he said: "Of course I would be disappointed … Mental health needs to be addressed. Background checks need to be universal. A ban on assault weapons. Those together will make an effective change." | Asked what his reaction would be if the ban failed to make it to the statute book, he said: "Of course I would be disappointed … Mental health needs to be addressed. Background checks need to be universal. A ban on assault weapons. Those together will make an effective change." |
| During the hearing, Feinstein, who also introduced the legislation for the last assault weapons ban passed in 1994, said the need for new controls had never been greater. | During the hearing, Feinstein, who also introduced the legislation for the last assault weapons ban passed in 1994, said the need for new controls had never been greater. |
| "Sadly, [Newtown] is not an anomaly," she said. "We have witnessed an increased number of these mass killings. The one common thread running through these mass shootings … is that the gunman used a military-style semi-automatic assault weapon or a large capacity magazine to inflict unspeakable terror." | "Sadly, [Newtown] is not an anomaly," she said. "We have witnessed an increased number of these mass killings. The one common thread running through these mass shootings … is that the gunman used a military-style semi-automatic assault weapon or a large capacity magazine to inflict unspeakable terror." |
| But Republicans argued that the previous ban, which was allowed to lapse in 2004 later under the Bush administration, made no impact. They also insisted that there already enough legislation on the statute book and the focus should be on enforcing it. | But Republicans argued that the previous ban, which was allowed to lapse in 2004 later under the Bush administration, made no impact. They also insisted that there already enough legislation on the statute book and the focus should be on enforcing it. |
| Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal, who supports gun controls and sits on the judiciary committee, refused to accept it was a lost cause. "I do not make any presumptions about what is going to happen. We have said from the beginning that all these measures are uphill work but I do believe some will pass … The reason for this hearing today is to change opinion on the part of opponents." | Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal, who supports gun controls and sits on the judiciary committee, refused to accept it was a lost cause. "I do not make any presumptions about what is going to happen. We have said from the beginning that all these measures are uphill work but I do believe some will pass … The reason for this hearing today is to change opinion on the part of opponents." |
| Republicans on the committee described the bill as tokenism. "When something has been tried and not found to work, we should try different approaches rather than re-enacting that which failed," senator Charles Grassley, the most senior Republican member, said. | Republicans on the committee described the bill as tokenism. "When something has been tried and not found to work, we should try different approaches rather than re-enacting that which failed," senator Charles Grassley, the most senior Republican member, said. |
| Grassley hinted that he might consider support for universal background checks but one of his Republican colleagues on the committee, Lindsey Graham, was sceptical even about that. | Grassley hinted that he might consider support for universal background checks but one of his Republican colleagues on the committee, Lindsey Graham, was sceptical even about that. |
| Graham, proud owner of an assault rifle, clashed with one of the witnesses at the hearing, Milwaukee police chief Edward Flynn, who backs gun controls. | Graham, proud owner of an assault rifle, clashed with one of the witnesses at the hearing, Milwaukee police chief Edward Flynn, who backs gun controls. |
| Graham argued that there was enough legislation on the statute books already and what was needed was the enforcement of these laws rather than expanding the number of laws. "If we're going to expand background checks, we ought to start enforcing the laws that are on the books." | Graham argued that there was enough legislation on the statute books already and what was needed was the enforcement of these laws rather than expanding the number of laws. "If we're going to expand background checks, we ought to start enforcing the laws that are on the books." |
| He expressed concern at the failure to pursue people lying in background checks when buying guns. | He expressed concern at the failure to pursue people lying in background checks when buying guns. |
| As the two clashed, Flynn, shouting over Graham, said: "We don't chase paper, we chase hard criminals." | As the two clashed, Flynn, shouting over Graham, said: "We don't chase paper, we chase hard criminals." |
| The reply brought a round of applause from the public benches in support of Flynn. Feinstein used her gavel to call for order and asked Graham and Flynn to be civil in exchanges. | The reply brought a round of applause from the public benches in support of Flynn. Feinstein used her gavel to call for order and asked Graham and Flynn to be civil in exchanges. |
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