Assault Weapons Ban Debate: Dianne Feinstein to Ted Cruz, "I'm Not a Sixth Grader"

Impact

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted in favor of the proposed assault weapons ban on Thursday. The panel voted in favor of the bill by 10-8, along party lines. The bill was originally introduced by Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) following the Sandy Hook massacre, which claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults. This is the fourth and final gun-related measure to be considered and passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee this week

At times, the debate between proponents of the bill and those in opposition, became heated. In the video, Ted Cruz (R-Texas) can be seen asking Feinstein about the constitutionality of such a ban, “The question that I would pose to the senior senator from California is would she deem it consistent with the Bill of Rights for Congress to engage in the same endeavor that we are contemplating doing with the Second Amendment in the context of the First or Fourth Amendment?” 

Feinstein was clearly agitated as she gave her response, “I’m not a sixth grader. Senator, I’ve been on this committee for 20 years. I was a mayor for nine years. I walked in, I saw people shot. I’ve looked at bodies that have been shot with these weapons. I’ve seen the bullets that implode.”

The bill would ban 157 specifically named military-style weapons, rifles and handguns. The bill would also outlaw large-capacity magazines that hold in excess of 10 rounds of ammunition. The assault weapons ban is expected to face wide opposition once it is introduced on the Senate floor next month.