[Infowarrior] - Dems try slipping gun control into cybersecurity bill

[Richard Forno]

This is one of the problems with Congress -- their fetish for tucking in unrelated items into named legislative proposals.  Need to pass a controversial national id card scheme?  Tack it onto must-pass legislation named the "Defense Authorisation Act."    Want to re-fund food stamps?  Amend the latest must-pass "Highway Funding Bill."   The modern Congress would fail to function (such that it does) and the apparently accepted cronyist nature of American politics would be undermined immediately if Congress would abide by Truth in Advertising when it comes to naming and amending its legislative items.   Got an item unrelated to the bill being discussed?  Too bad.  (wishful thinking, I know....but hey, it's Friday.)   -- rick



Democratic senators offer gun control amendment for cybersecurity bill

By Ramsey Cox - 07/26/12 07:29 PM ET

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/240657-cybersecurity-bill-includes-gun-control-measure
    
Democratic senators have offered an amendment to the cybersecurity bill that would limit the purchase of high capacity gun magazines for some consumers.

Shortly after the Cybersecurity Act gained Senate approval to proceed to filing proposed amendments and a vote next week, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), a sponsor of the gun control amendment, came to the floor to defend the idea of implementing some “reasonable” gun control measures.

The amendment was sponsored by Democratic Sens. Frank Lautenberg (N.J.), Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Jack Reed (R.I.), Bob Menendez (N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Schumer and Dianne Feinstein (Calif.). S.A. 2575 would make it illegal to transfer or possess large capacity feeding devices such as gun magazines, belts, feed stripes and drums of more than 10 rounds of ammunition with the exception of .22 caliber rim fire ammunition.
The amendment is identical to a separate bill sponsored by Lautenberg. Feinstein was the sponsor of the assault weapons ban, which expired in 2004.  

The proposed amendment would only affect sales and transfers after the law took effect.

Schumer defended the Brady law and assault weapons ban on the floor Thursday evening, perhaps in preparation for the coming fight with Republicans and gun rights activists.

Schumer suggested that both the left and right find common ground. 

“Maybe we could come together on guns if each side gave some,” Schumer said.

He suggested that Democrats make it clear that their goal is not to repeal the Second Amendment.

“The basic complaint is that the Chuck Schumers of the world want to take away your guns,” Schumer said of the argument made by gun lobbies. “I think it would be smart for those of us who want rational gun control to make it know that that’s not true at all.”

Schumer also pointed out that it would be reasonable for the right to recognize that background checks on those buying guns is necessary — as called for in the Brady law. He also said average Americans don’t need an assault weapon to go hunting or protect themselves.

“We can debate where to draw the line of reasonableness, but we might be able to come to an agreement in the middle,” Schumer said. “Maybe, maybe, maybe we can pass some laws that might, might, might stop some of the unnecessary casualties … maybe there’s a way we can some together and try to break through the log jam and make sure the country is a better place.”

Next week the Senate is expected to debate and vote on proposed amendments to the cybersecurity bill.

Updated at 9:30 p.m.

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Just because i'm near the punchbowl doesn't mean I'm also drinking from it.