The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday voted to approve a bill banning 157 so-called “assault style” weapons. The committee voted 10-8 along Party lines — all Democrats approved, all Republicans voted no. On top of banning certain gun models, the bill would also limit the size of ammunition magazines to 10 rounds.
Freshman Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), a rising star in the national conservative movement, took on Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) during the hearing by laying out a hypothetical scenario in which Congress would challenge the First or Fourth Amendments in the same way they are challenging the Second.
“The question that I would pose to the senior Senator from California is: Would she deem it consistent with the Bill of Rights for Congress to engage in the same endeavor that we are contemplating doing with the Second Amendment in the context of the First or Fourth Amendment? Namely, would she consider it constitutional for Congress to specify that the First Amendment shall apply only to the following books and shall not apply to the books that Congress has deemed outside the protection of the Bill of Rights?
“Likewise, would she think that the Fourth Amendment’s protection against searches and seizures could properly apply only to the following specified individuals and not to the individuals that Congress has deemed outside the protection of the Bill of Rights?”
Sen. Feinstein’s response?
“I’m not a 6th grader.”
The video of their exchange can be seen above.
Back in Alabama, Attorney General Luther Strange quickly responded to the bill, which will now be moving to the full Senate for debate.
“It does nothing to stop criminals from committing crimes,” Strange said of the bill. “The rights guaranteed us under the Second Amendment are fundamental and sacred. The Senate Democrats are using the tragedies that befell our nation to advance their political agenda. If these bills become law, I will move quickly to challenge them and protect Alabama citizens from this abusive federal overreach.”
What else is going on?
1. Bentley Signs Education Reform Bill
2. Polling Shows Strong Public Support for GOP School Choice Legislation
3. This week’s Rumors & Rumblings
4. INTERVIEW: Senator Scott Beason Discusses Education Reform
5. Sessions Demands Changes as Welfare State Balloons to Record Size
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