WASHINGTON, DC -- Congress takes up one of President Obama's top legislative priorities today.
Lawmakers are introducing a bill to ban assault weapons and high capacity ammo clips.
The fight over gun control moves from the streets to the halls of Congress today. Senator Dianne Feinstein of California will introduce a bill banning assault weapons and high capacity ammunition clips.
Connecticut Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, both Democrats, are co-sponsoring the bill. They say the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut proves there's a need to ban assault weapons.
"Newtown fundamentally changed things, and the NRA just does not get this," said Murphy.
But the NRA says law abiding citizens need the same technology the criminals have.
"That means we believe in the right to defend ourselves and our families with semi-automatic firearms technology," stressed Wayne LaPierre, NRA Executive Vice President.
The NRA has a lot of support here on Capitol Hill, especially in the House where many say an assault weapons ban has little chance of being passed.
"This is going to be a tough go," predicts Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.)
And it may be tough to win over some of the public as well. On Wednesday, sheriffs in Missouri, California and Texas announced they would not enforce new gun control laws such as an assault weapons ban.
"If there are laws that I feel and can prove are unconstitutional, we won't enforce those rules in Collin County, and I think I have the power to do that," says Sheriff Terry Box of Collin County, Texas.
President Obama is sending Vice President Biden on the road to gather public support.
"We're going to take this fight to the halls of Congress. We're going to take it beyond that, we're going to take it to the American people," Biden said.
The vice president's road trip begins tomorrow with a rally in Virginia to promote gun control.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will begin holding hearings on gun control proposals next Wednesday.
(Susan McGinnis, CBS News)
Lawmakers are introducing a bill to ban assault weapons and high capacity ammo clips.
The fight over gun control moves from the streets to the halls of Congress today. Senator Dianne Feinstein of California will introduce a bill banning assault weapons and high capacity ammunition clips.
Connecticut Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, both Democrats, are co-sponsoring the bill. They say the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut proves there's a need to ban assault weapons.
"Newtown fundamentally changed things, and the NRA just does not get this," said Murphy.
But the NRA says law abiding citizens need the same technology the criminals have.
"That means we believe in the right to defend ourselves and our families with semi-automatic firearms technology," stressed Wayne LaPierre, NRA Executive Vice President.
The NRA has a lot of support here on Capitol Hill, especially in the House where many say an assault weapons ban has little chance of being passed.
"This is going to be a tough go," predicts Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.)
And it may be tough to win over some of the public as well. On Wednesday, sheriffs in Missouri, California and Texas announced they would not enforce new gun control laws such as an assault weapons ban.
"If there are laws that I feel and can prove are unconstitutional, we won't enforce those rules in Collin County, and I think I have the power to do that," says Sheriff Terry Box of Collin County, Texas.
President Obama is sending Vice President Biden on the road to gather public support.
"We're going to take this fight to the halls of Congress. We're going to take it beyond that, we're going to take it to the American people," Biden said.
The vice president's road trip begins tomorrow with a rally in Virginia to promote gun control.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will begin holding hearings on gun control proposals next Wednesday.
(Susan McGinnis, CBS News)
