WASHINGTON — The US Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation Thursday making gun trafficking a federal crime as lawmakers cast the first vote in Congress to curb firearms since December's shootings at a Connecticut elementary school left 20 children ages 6 and 7 dead. The panel was also debating bills banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines, requiring background checks for nearly all gun purchases, and providing more money for schools to buy video cameras and other safety equipment. The committee approved the gun trafficking measure on an 11-7 vote. Sen. Charles Grassley was the only Republican to vote in favor of the measure, whose chief sponsor was the panel's chairman, Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Democrat. Evidence was abundant of partisan clashes ahead as the two parties sparred over the need to limit firearms. Leahy said he hoped senators would make significant progress this week on curbing gun violence. Grassley said everyone wants to prevent more killings like the deaths of the Connecticut school that included six members of the staff. But he said gun control does not work and accused Democrats of wanting to “impose more gun restrictions on law-abiding citizens.” All four measures were expected to pass the committee. But their fate when the full Senate considers them, probably in April, is less certain. The trafficking measure by Leahy was thought to have the best prospects, while the assault weapons ban by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat, seemed to have the slimmest chance. The trafficking bill would create penalties of up to 25 years in prison for people who legally buy guns but give them to others who use them in crimes. Democrats led by Sen. Charles Schumer had hoped to reach a bipartisan deal on expanding federal background checks with conservative Sen. Tom Coburn, a Republican. But on Wednesday, Democrats set aside their efforts to win over Coburn after weeks of talks failed to resolve a dispute over requiring that records of private sales be retained. Their inability to craft a deal with Coburn was a blow to Democrats because of his solid conservative credentials and “A'' rating with the National Rifle Association, a powerful gun advocacy group. His support could have meant backing from other Senate Republicans and even moderate Democrats, including several facing 2014 re-election campaigns in Republican-leaning states. In addition, supporters of curbing guns say the Senate will have to approve legislation with strong bipartisan support to boost their chances of success in the Republican-led House. Republican leaders there have said they won't act until the Senate produces legislation. – AP
