Congress, Gun Control | featured news

US lawmakers will dump a plan to ban assault weapons, all but killing off a key part of a gun control campaign galvanised by a recent school massacre.

NRA head Wayne LaPierre offered another fiery critique of Congress's actions on gun control Friday, suggesting universal background checks and a federal gun registry are only meant to tax guns and confiscate them.

A divided Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday backed President Barack Obama's call to require criminal background checks for all gun buyers, yet it remained uncertain if it would become law.

A proposed ban on military-style assault weapons faces a key test vote as early as Thursday when the committee considering gun control legislation is scheduled to decide whether to refer the proposal to the full Senate.

Budget cuts could thwart efforts to strengthen the gun background check system.

Lawmakers in both parties view an assault weapons ban as politically toxic, but many seem more amenable to restricting the kinds of high-capacity magazines used in recent rampages.

Democrats in the House of Representatives will unveil a proposal on Thursday to combat gun violence, including a bid to ban assault weapons, party sources said.

President Obama on Monday tried to undercut National Rifle Association leaders and appeal directly to their membership, claiming gun owners support the "common-sense" gun control measures he's proposed -- and urging those supporters to "keep the pressure" on Congress.

Lamar Alexander won’t say what his opinion is on universal background checks because, as he says, video games are just a much bigger problem than guns when it comes to violent crime.

The first congressional committee hearing on guns of the year began with an emotional jolt Wednesday, with former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was seriously wounded in a mass shooting two years ago, urging senators to "be bold, be courageous" in addressing gun violence.