Senate Panel OKs Ban on 'Straw Purchases,' Three Other Gun-Control Proposals Stall

Last week the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bipartisan bill to expand sanctions on illegal "straw purchases" of guns, the first major gun-related bill adopted by the panel since 1994.

But votes on three more controversial proposals -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein's semi-automatic firearms ban, high-capacity ammunition magazine restrictions and expanded universal background checks -- will likely be delayed until later this week.

The committee is expected to approve all four measures and refer them to the full Senate before the two-week Easter recess. However, the panel adjourned before midday Thursday, citing the need for some members to attend a classified briefing on an unspecified matter. Aides later said the committee might not reconvene until next week.

Three of the four proposals -- Feinstein's semi-automatic firearms ban, high-cap magazine restrictions, universal background checks -- have drawn strong opposition from GOP senators and some Democrats.

The proposed gun trafficking bill endorsed by the committee Thursday in an 11-7 vote would create penalties of up to 25 years in prison for people who legally buy guns in "straw purchases" to give them to others to use in crimes.

For more, go to:
-- Senate panel OKs ban on 'straw purchases' of guns

-- Senate committee approves gun trafficking bill

-- Trafficking bill approved as gun control debate begins in earnest

-- Senate committee starting votes on curbing guns

-- Gun control efforts hit Senate snag

-- Bipartisan background-check bill stalls as GOP balks

-- Everything you need to know about the Senate's gun bills

-- Deal closer on gun trafficking than background checks