With congressional Democrats openly doubting they can pass an assault weapons ban, President Obama’s spokesman indicated that he would sign anti-gun violence legislation that does not include such a ban.
“The president is not saying that any single measure has to be part of it,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters when asked if Obama would veto a bill that did not include an assault weapons ban. “He believes we ought to move on all of them and he’s not going to say that we have to move on this one or we wont move on any of them.”
Hill Democrats are increasingly skeptical that an assault weapons ban will become law. “Is it something that can pass the Senate?” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said yesterday. “Maybe. Is it something that can pass the House? I doubt it.”
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., whose responsible for rallying Democratic votes behind bills, demurred. “I don’t have an assessment right now,” he told reporters.
