House Democrats push for immediate vote on gun control measure

House Democrats on Wednesday pressured Republicans to hold a vote now on a bill that would ban high capacity gun clips like the one used in the deadly Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D- Calif., said the GOP leadership should put a bill on the floor by Friday that would limit the size of gun magazines to 10 rounds.

Republicans leaders have not publicly responded to Pelosi's demand.

Flanked by a crowd of Democratic lawmakers, Pelosi made the statement at a news conference announcing a special House Democratic task force aimed at examining gun violence. Pelosi said she has tapped Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., who is a gun owner and a hunter, to lead the panel.

Democrats are trying to seize momentum necessary to pass the most aggressive gun control measure since the 1994 legislation that banned a wide range of assault weapons.

Both Republicans and Democrats, "would risk our lives to take that magazine out of the hands of the shooter," Pelosi said, calling for what she described as "political courage" from lawmakers. "Let's take a political risk and take that magazine out of the hands of shooters."

Democrats in the past have been reluctant to take up gun control legislation. They resisted an opportunity to reinstate the expired 1994 ban on assault weapons even when the House, Senate and White House were under Democratic control. And the party did not make it an issue during the 2012 election cycle.

Pelosi said Wednesday that she did not take up any gun bills when she was House speaker because Republicans would have filibustered it in the Senate.

They can't allow a rational debate on the issue. Just rush it through before they finish burying the little bodies. I really detest these maggots.

No need for debate, our betters have already decided what is to be done.

This is good, it means they know they are not getting any traction with gun control and are desperate to gain some political coinage. It looks ludicrous for them to fake up public support for gun control when Walmart is selling out of all their guns and ammo. As somebody else pointed out. Obama actions - not his words, was a punt - he is creating a committee to study the issue... Also, they are facing a very tough mid-term with I think 20 Dem seats exposed vs 13 GOP. With Midterm turnout normally not that high, a issue like gun control will bring out a massive conservative block when they did not do all that well in the state elections this last time. Another point made was when Obama gave his anti gun speech recently, not one of the veteran reporters thought it was worth it to ask any questions on the issue.