In the wake of recent mass shootings, a congressman from New York became the first Republican to sign on to a Democratic backed bill that would ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Rep. Peter King is now co-sponsoring the Assault Weapons Ban of 2019, a piece of legislation introduced in February by Rep. David Cicilline, a Democrat from Rhode Island. The bill has 201 co-sponsors, all of whom are Democrats. Prior to the shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, the legislation had 190 co-sponsors, but since then an additional 11 lawmakers have signed on.
The 75-year-old King, who has served in Congress for more than 25 years, told the Daily News that he doesn’t believe private citizens should have access to the type of firearm.
“They are weapons of mass slaughter,” King said Monday shortly after his support became public. “I don’t see any need for them in everyday society.”
“I think the assault weapons ban is timely now, especially in view of the shooting in El Paso and Dayton,” he added.
King had been the lead sponsor of a bill that would have improved background checks when Republicans still maintained control of the House.
Although passage of an assault weapons ban would be unlikely to pass the GOP-led Senate, King said he hopes his support might spur some other House Republicans to sign on.
“It might give cover to some other Republicans, it might give some incentive to Democrats,” he said.
Other Republicans have said they support a ban on assault weapons after the back-to-back shootings that killed a combined 31 people. One of them is Rep. Mike Turner, who represents Dayton in congress and another is Florida Rep. Brian Mast, who signaled support for a ban after last year’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
Cicilline, 58, praised King for supporting his legislation.
“These weapons belong on the battlefield, not in our homes, schools, houses of worship or workplaces,” Cicilline said. “I’m pleased that Congressman King has joined this effort. I sincerely hope that more of my Republicans colleagues will put their service to our country and the safety of their constituents ahead of their need to raise campaign money from the gun lobby.”
President Trump has said he will be looking at new ideas from Congress about how to prevent mass shootings “very strongly” when lawmakers return from recess.
[Also read: House Democrats plan ammunition ban vote next month]
