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Sen. Brown: 'I support a federal assault weapons ban'
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12/19/12 07:08 PM ET
Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) on Wednesday said he supports a federal assault weapons ban.
Brown's statement in an interview with The Republican of Massachusetts comes less than a week after a shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut on Friday that left 27 dead including 20 young children.
A number of legislators have called for action in response to the shooting. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) plans to introduce federal assault weapons ban legislation in the next Congress. Brown's successor in the next Congress, Sen.-elect Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), said earlier on Wednesday that she would support Feinstein's bill.
"What happened in Newtown where those children were subject to that level of violence is beyond my comprehension. As a state legislator in Massachusetts I supported an assault weapons ban thinking other states would follow suit. But unfortunately, they have not and innocent people are being killed," Brown said. "As a result, I support a federal assault weapons ban, perhaps like the legislation we have in Massachusetts."
Brown added that mental health should be considered in efforts to prevent future shootings.
"I also think we need to look at mental health in this country and see if we can keep these weapons out of the hands of people with severe issues," Brown said. "I think it's time for all of us to have these conversations."
In July, shortly after a shooting rampage at a movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado Brown signaled that gun restriction legislation should be left to state legislatures.
"Scott Brown supports the state assault weapons ban here in Massachusetts, and believes that the states are the appropriate venue for making these types of decisions," Brown's office said according to the Associated Press.
Brown's statement in an interview with The Republican of Massachusetts comes less than a week after a shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut on Friday that left 27 dead including 20 young children.
A number of legislators have called for action in response to the shooting. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) plans to introduce federal assault weapons ban legislation in the next Congress. Brown's successor in the next Congress, Sen.-elect Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), said earlier on Wednesday that she would support Feinstein's bill.
"What happened in Newtown where those children were subject to that level of violence is beyond my comprehension. As a state legislator in Massachusetts I supported an assault weapons ban thinking other states would follow suit. But unfortunately, they have not and innocent people are being killed," Brown said. "As a result, I support a federal assault weapons ban, perhaps like the legislation we have in Massachusetts."
"I also think we need to look at mental health in this country and see if we can keep these weapons out of the hands of people with severe issues," Brown said. "I think it's time for all of us to have these conversations."
In July, shortly after a shooting rampage at a movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado Brown signaled that gun restriction legislation should be left to state legislatures.
"Scott Brown supports the state assault weapons ban here in Massachusetts, and believes that the states are the appropriate venue for making these types of decisions," Brown's office said according to the Associated Press.
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