Senate Judiciary Dems Pass 2 Gun Bills; Schimel Around

During a week where the Democratic led Senate Judiciary committee passed two gun-related bills at working sessions, New York Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel was in Washington supporting the cause.

New York Sen. Charles Schumer’s "Fix Gun Checks Act of 2013," which could criminalize virtually all private firearm sales, even temporary transfers, and California Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s "Assault Weapons Ban of 2013" both cleared the committee which met March 12 and 14.

Each bill poses a direct threat to Second Amendment rights, with committee Democrats in favor of the bills and all Republicans voting against, according to the National Rifle Association.

Under the guise of making improvements to the federal instant background check system, Sen. Schumer’s S. 374 bill, includes provisions to require all but a very few gun transfers to go through a dealer, and forcing dealers to keep records of each transfer, said the NRA in a press release last week.

According to the NRA, more than 4 million legal AR-15s commonly-owned by law-abiding Americans are rarely used in crime, and just 2.5 percent of murders involve rifles of any sort.

Democrats argue that a semi-auto ban is constitutional under the Heller decision, which states commonly-owned arms are protected by the Second Amendment.

State Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel, D-Great Neck, co-chair of the New York Chapter of State Legislators Against Illegal Guns, traveled to Washington, D.C., Friday to lobby members of Congress to pass comprehensive gun-safety legislation.

"The coalition of legislators are urging Congress to pass an assault weapons ban, background checks on all gun sales, and a ban on high capacity ammunition clips," according to a Schimel press release.

The small group of elected officials participated last week in a roundtable discussion with SLAIG members, New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus and advocates to discuss the issue of gun violence, according to Schimel.