Reid pledges Senate will address gun violence bill

WASHINGTON - Sen. Harry Reid on Wednesday promised the Senate will take up a gun violence bill early this year but did not tip his hand on what safety controls he thought should be in it.

Reid, the Senate majority leader, said the legislation would encompass guns but also "other aspects of violence in our society."

"The tragedy at Sandy Hook (Elementary School) was just the latest sad reminder that we are not doing enough to protect our citizens - especially our children - from gun violence and a culture of violence, and all options should be on the table moving forward," the Nevadan said.

Federal lawmakers from the Silver State, where the embrace of guns for hunting and sport shooting echo its frontier past, reacted cautiously for the most part to President Barack Obama's gun control proposals coming a month after a gunman shot and killed 20 youngsters and six adults in Newtown, Conn. It was the latest and most resonant outburst of violence that shocked the nation.

Obama said he would ask Congress to renew a ban on military-style weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips containing more than 10 rounds of bullets. He also urged that prospective buyers of all guns be subject to background checks

Obama called for putting police officers in 1,000 schools and for teachers to undergo "mental health first aid" training to spot troubled and potentially dangerous young people.

Reid said the proposals were "thoughtful recommendations" but stopped short of endorsing any of them or rejecting any of them out of hand. In a television interview Friday on "Nevada Week in Review," he said he doubted a ban on assault weapons could pass the GOP-controlled House of Representatives.

Reid said Tuesday on KNPR-FM, 88.9, that debate in Congress should include "video violence, TV violence, movie violence, guns and also people who are (mentally) incompetent."

Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., said initiatives that might carry implications for Second Amendment gun rights should be scrutinized closely.

"Caution should be exercised to ensure that any federal action or legislation does not infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens," Heller said. "As always, Congress should look to the Constitution as guidance when reviewing any legislation that comes up for a vote on the Senate floor."

In the House, Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., endorsed Obama's proposals as "reasonable."

"Universal background checks can help prevent those who are legally prohibited from buying a gun from obtaining what can become a dangerous weapon," Horsford said. "Military-style assault weapons do not belong on our streets and neither do high-capacity magazines that are designed to inflict maximum damage."

"This is not about taking guns away from law-abiding citizens," Horsford said. "I support the Second Amendment and the right of individuals to bear arms for recreation, hunting or self-defense. That does not mean we cannot have reasonable gun laws to keep military-designed weapons out of our neighborhoods and communities."

Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., was traveling to Las Vegas on Wednesday and was not available, an aide said. Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., was attending a House Republican retreat in Virginia, his spokesman said.

Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., also was traveling. Spokesman Greg Lemon said Heck "has long been a supporter of more efficient background checks and prioritizing resources to deal with mental health issues." Lemon did not comment on the proposed assault weapons ban, saying Heck "looks forward to reviewing the president's proposal."

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760. Follow him on Twitter @STetreaultDC.