Sen. Feinstein Promises New Assault Weapons Ban

Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) has promised to introduce a federal assault weapons ban following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newton, Conn.

Feinstein appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press," where she said she would announce the bill during the new congressional session in January. She said it would be a modified version of her assault weapons ban that lasted from 1994 to 2004, when it expired.

Feinstein said her bill will "ban the sale, the transfer, the importation and the possession (of assault weapons). "Not retroactively but prospectively. And it will ban the same for big clips, drums or strips of more than 10 bullets."

Several lawmakers voiced their support for such a bill, including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Sen. Chuck Schumer, reports the Wall Street Journal . A spokesman for President Obama said such a ban "does remain a committment of his," reports CNN .

On "Morning Joe," NRA-endorsed Sen. Joe Manchin (R-W. Va.) said he supports a ban curbing such weapons, reports MSNBC .