The Focus of Today's Session will be
S.1805, the Gun Liability Bill

6:15 P.M.

Senators have continued to speak on pre-war intelligence.  There will be no more roll call votes this evening and the Senate will return tomorrow morning. 

4:45 P.M.

Senator Jon Kyl or Arizona, while discussing the matter of pre-war intelligence gathered about weapons of mass destruction, is supporting the Bush Administration's use of intelligence in deciding to go to war with Iraq.

4:30 P.M.

Senator Christopher Dodd is speaking on the floor about the situation in Haiti. He is questioning who will fill the void that has been created by the departure of Haiti's President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Senator Dodd, the Ranking Member on the Committee on Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs, has been outspoken the past few days about Haiti.

4:15 P.M.

The Senate voted 8-90 to not pass the Gun Liability bill.

3:45 P.M.

Senator Reed of Rhode Island has made his final remarks on S.1805 .  Senator Craig, the sponsor of the bill who has favored its passage, just finished his closing comments.  He said that the amendments to the bill have changed the nature of the issue and he no longer supports passing this version of the bill.

3:40 P.M.

By a vote of 56-41 the Senate voted to table the Levin amendment. 

3:20 P.M.

Senator Craig has moved to table Senator Levin's amendment.  A vote on whether to table this amendment is now taking place. 

3:15 P.M.

By a vote of 34 to 63 the Senate voted not to approve the Kennedy amendment, S.Amdt.2619.  The Senate is now about to vote on Senator Levin's Amendment, S.Amdt.2631.  After the vote on Senator Levin's amendment, a vote on final passage is expected. 

2:25 P.M.

The Senate has returned to session and is now voting on the Frist/Craig Amendment, S.Amdt.2625.  This amendment would order the Attorney General to conduct a study to determine if a uniform standard is reasonable and to examine the impact of a uniform regulation on sporting and hunting ammunition.  More From the Floor staff notes that  the wailing sirens heard from Constitution Avenue near the Capitol, indicate that Vice President Cheney has now left the Hill.  The Constitution establishes that the Vice President serves as the President of the Senate.  It his therefore his responsibility to cast a vote to break any tie that may occur during a Senate session.  With the potential of the assault weapons ban vote ending with fifty votes on each side, Vice President Cheney came to the Hill earlier this morning.   

12:46 P.M.

After the Senate voted 91-8 to accept Senator Campbell's amendment, the Senate recessed until 2:15 for its weekly policy luncheons.

12:26 P.M.

Senator McCain's amendment was accepted by a vote of 53-46. The Senate is now turning to consideration and a vote on Senator Campbell's amendment about concealed carry. Senator Leahy, a co-sponsor of this amendment, is voicing his support of the amendment.

12:10 P.M.

Senators Larry Craig of Idaho and John McCain of Arizona each came to the floor to make a last minute plea to their colleagues regarding the upcoming vote on Senator McCain's amendment about the gun show loophole.  Senator Craig spoke against this amendment while Senator McCain spoke in support of it.  The Senate is now voting on the amendment.

12:05 P.M.

The Senate voted 52-47 to accept Senator Feinstein's amendment about the assault weapons ban.

11:35 A.M.

The Senate will now begin voting on Senator Feinstein's amendment about the assault weapons ban, Senator McCain's amendment about the gun show loophole, Senator Campbell's amendment about concealed carry, Senator Craig's amendment about armor-piercing bullets, Senator Kennedy's amendment also about armor-piercing bullets, and Senator Levin's amendment about civil action against a person if gross negligence or reckless conduct of the person results in death or injury.  Following the votes on these amendments, the Senate will vote on final passage of S.1805.

11:15 A.M.

Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts came to the Floor to offer his support of many of the amendments being offered today, including the renewal of the Assault Weapons Ban and closing the gun show loophole. Senator Kerry emphasized that every major law enforcement agency in America is in support of this ban as they live in fear of being outgunned by the criminals they must confront. Senator Kerry also spoke of President Bush’s support for the renewal of this ban and urged him to keep his promise. He concluded by stating that, as a hunter himself, he strongly feels that gun rights and gun responsibilities are mainstream American values.
 

11:00 A.M.

Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey came to the Floor to speak about the renewal of the Assault Weapons Ban, an effort that is being spearheaded by Senator Diane Feinstein of California. Enacted in 1994, the ban on 19 semiautomatic weapons is set to expire on September 13 of this year if not renewed. The vote to renew this ban is expected to be extremely close. In discussing the need for the renewal of the ban, Senator Lautenberg spoke of the tragedy at Columbine High School reminding his colleagues that the two students responsible for this tragedy were armed with assault weapons. He also discussed the risk of assault weapons coming into the hands of terrorists.

10:15 A.M.

Discussion continues on the McCain-Reed amendment. The chief sponsor of this bill, Senator Craig discussed attitudes of the American public as he feels they relate to the Second Amendment. Using floor charts, Senator Craig drew his colleagues’ attention to a Zogby poll which indicated that a majority of Americans feel that manufactures of firearms (containing no product defects) should not be allowed to be sued if their product happens to be used to commit a crime.
 

10:00 A.M.

Senator John McCain of Arizona came to the Floor to discuss the amendment he and Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island have offered which would close the gun show loophole by requiring background checks at shows where at least 75 guns are sold. Senator McCain stated that according to the N.R.A., hundreds of thousands of unlicensed gun sales occur each year and that crime-guns do in fact originate at gun shows. In response to the assertion being made by opponents to this amendment, many of whom worry about the costs to the gun industry for implementing such checks, he stated that 91% of criminal background checks are completed within several minutes and 95% are completed within two hours. Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey joined Senator McCain in voicing his strong feelings about the need to rectify the gun show loophole.

Debate on S.1805 will continue until 11:35, at which point the Senate will vote on seven amendments as well as on final passage of this bill.

9:30 A.M.

The Senate will reconvene this morning at 9:30 to resume consideration of S.1805, the Gun Liability bill.  A number of votes are expected throughout today on amendments to this bill.  Debate will begin with consideration of Senators John McCain and Jack Reed's amendment about the gun show loophole, Senator Dianne Feinstein's amendment about the assault weapons ban, and Senator Bill Frist's amendment about ammunition.