By a 10-8, party-line vote with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday moved legislation that would revive the ban on assault-style weapons that expired in 2004.
The vote, while expected, remains noteworthy because it is among a handful of legislative responses so far to the mass shootings in recent years — most notably the , that left 20 children and six educators dead.
The bill, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, now goes to the full Senate — where it is not expected to get enough support to pass. The ban also lacks support in the Republican-controlled House.
, the Judiciary Committee — also on a party-line vote — approved a bill that would expand background checks of gun purchasers to sales between private parties. Last week, for a bill that would make gun trafficking a federal crime carrying long prison terms. Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa was the sole Republican supporter.
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Democrats
-- Patrick Leahy of Vermont (chairman)
-- Feinstein
-- Charles Schumer of New York
-- Richard Durbin of Illinois
-- Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island
-- Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota
-- Al Franken of Minnesota
-- Christopher Coons of Delaware
-- Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut
-- Mazie Hirono of Hawaii
Republicans
-- Grassley (ranking minority member)
-- Orrin Hatch of Utah
-- Jess Sessions of Alabama
-- Lindsey Graham of South Carolina
-- John Cornyn of Texas
-- Michael Lee of Utah
-- Ted Cruz of Texas
-- Jeff Flake of Arizona
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