Ban on Assault WeaponsThe Senate Judiciary Committee passed a measure that bans around 160 types of military-grade assault weapons. Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein would like President Barack Obama to support the legislation and judging by the recent comments made by White House spokesman Jay Carney, the senator might have her wish granted.

Carney was asked whether President Obama would support the legislation and he replied that the president has been looking on the progress of the bipartisan effort on the immigration overhaul and measures to decrease gun violence. He added that the president understands that the assault weapons ban is a tough issue and he has always supported the restoration of the ban.

The spokesman added that the president strongly supports the measure that Senator Feinstein is pushing forward. Carney maintained that none of the measures that the White House proposed would take a gun away from law-abiding Americans. They are made to decrease gun violence in the nation.

The statements made by the spokesman don’t say much about whether President Obama would lobby the legislation to Democratic senators who are up for reelection in 2014, such as Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Senator Max Baucus of Montana, and Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana. Majority of Senate Republicans and several Democrats from rural states oppose the measure. They said it violates the constitutional right to own a gun. Senators running for re-election fear they would lose if they support the legislation.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is controlled by the Democrats. They voted 10-8 to approve the bill to renew a ban that is similar to one that expired in 2004. The legislation would limit ammunition magazines to 10 bullets.

In the recent mass shootings in the US, military-style assault weapons have been used. This included the shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut that killed 6 adults and 20 children last December 14.