Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, gave signs on Tuesday of supporting at least two of Democrats’ gun-control bills that are set for panel debate this week.
That show of support doesn’t extend to the President Obama-inspired push to ban the semi-automatic weapons described as “assault” rifles by many in the gun-control debate, Newsmax reported.
The measures Mr. Grassley would support, Newsmax said: tighter law enforcement to root out illegal gun trafficking and more security presence at schools.
Newsmax reports Mr. Grassley is also on the fence about a law requiring criminal and mental-health background checks on all gun buyers.
The Democrat-heavy Judiciary Committee — 10 Democrats, eight Republicans — is set to discuss four bills on gun control on Thursday. The bills are expected to move out of committee for full Senate floor consideration, though amendments are likely, Newsmax reports.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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