Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) said he expects to move forward with new gun control legislation, despite the opposition of his party's leaders.
King, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said that most Republicans agree with his proposed legislation to outlaw bringing a firearm within 1,000 feet of a member of Congress.
"Yes, I expect to go forward, and it's not a disagreement I have with many people in the Republican Party," King said on Fox News.
Both Speaker John Boehner
John Andrew BoehnerTed Cruz, AOC have it right on banning former members of Congress from becoming lobbyists Ted Cruz, AOC have it right on banning former members of Congress from becoming lobbyists Rep. Amash stokes talk of campaign against Trump MORE (R-Ohio) and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor
Eric Ivan CantorGOP faces tough battle to become 'party of health care' 737 crisis tests Boeing's clout in Washington House Republicans find silver lining in minority MORE (R-Va.) have said they oppose King's bill, which he proposed earlier this week following the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) at a constituent event.
King's bill is one of several proposed by members of both parties in the wake of the assassination attempt against Giffords. On the Republican side, Rep. Louie Gohmert
Louis (Louie) Buller GohmertAnnual 'Will on the Hill' pokes fun at 2020 race Annual 'Will on the Hill' pokes fun at 2020 race Democrats, Republicans in Congress spar over state abortion laws MORE (R-Texas) has proposed allowing members to carry guns in D.C. and on the floor of the House. On the Democratic side, Rep. Robert Brady (Pa.) wants to outlaw language or images that threaten lawmakers, and several other lawmakers have proposed restrictions on the kind of extended magazine clips the alleged shooter used in the attack against Giffords.
The New York Republican argued that his legislation would give law enforcement greater leeway in preventing threats from manifesting against members of Congress at the kind of constituent event Giffords had been holding.
"So it's to, in effect, protect the people who are coming and also give the police the extra power they would need, so that if they do see someone with a gun or someone who might have a gun, they can go up and talk to them, question them, and escort them away," he said.
