On Feb. 28, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) will bring up four pieces of gun control legislation for a vote–an “assault weapons” ban, a “high capacity” magazine ban, a measure against gun trafficking, and a universal expansion of the current background check system.
Each measure will be brought up separately so that the expected failure of the “assault weapons” ban won’t necessarily translate into a failure of universal background checks, the “one element of Obama’s [proposals]… gun control supporters are focusing on.”
The NRA and Gun Owners of America have made it clear that Democrats are doubling down on universal background checks because such checks are a means by which a gun registry and myriad other 2nd Amendment infringements can be forced upon the American people at a later date.
An internal DOJ memo made clear the viability of universal background checks rests on their being coupled with a gun registry and mandatory gun buybacks.