US Senate committee approves assault weapons ban, which faces difficult path through Congress

WASHINGTON – The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved an assault weapons ban in a party-line vote but the measure is not expected to survive in the full Senate.

The proposal by Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein was approved on a 10-8 vote Thursday by the Democratic-controlled committee.

An assault rifle was used by the man who killed 26 elementary school students and staff in Connecticut in December. Banning the weapons is key to President Barack Obama’s plan to curb gun violence. The school shooting revived debate in the U.S. on whether stricter gun control laws are needed.

Feinstein faces overwhelming Republican opposition in the full Senate and likely defections by up to six moderate Democrats facing re-election next year in Republican-leaning states in the South and West.

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