A few Democrats, rebuffed, call for gun control

WASHINGTON – A handful of Democrats are calling for a ban on high-capacity ammunition clips after the movie theater shooting rampage in Colorado, but House and Senate leaders of both parties have no plans to touch the issue this election year.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, along with House Speaker John Boehner, have told reporters Tuesday that there should be no push for tighter gun control. They say the shooting should not be politicized and there's little time left in the polarized Congress to tackle the issue. Still, four Democrats — Sens. Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, and Reps. Diana DeGette of Colorado and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy of New York say the shooting is only the latest evidence that the clips should be banned.