Sen. Feinstein optimistic about assault weapons ban despite “uphill fight”

Sen. Dianne Feinstein said on Sunday that her proposed ban on military style assault rifles and high capacity ammunition clips faces an "uphill fight" to get enough votes in the Senate.

Feinstein, a Democrat from California, introduced a bill last week that would ban more than 150 specific types of weapons and ammunition magazines that have more than 10 rounds, reports AP.

The weapons are similar to the ones used in the school shooting in Newtown, Conn. in December that killed 20 school children and 6 adults. 

"This has always been an uphill fight. This has never been easy. This is the hardest of the hard," Feinstein said on CNN's "State of the Union". 

Feinstein previously authored an assault weapons ban in 1993 that passed the Senate. The ban expired in 2004 after Congress refused to extend it, reports Reuters. 

Speaking on CBS' Face the Nation, Feinstein addressed the fear that gun advocates have about losing their second amendment rights, saying "let's talk about rights for a minute."

"Does a child have a right to be safe in school? Does a law client when he goes into a law firm have a right to believe he's safe? Does a shopper in a mall have a right to believe that she's safe? I think so.

"…Look at Aurora," she continued. "People sitting in a theater. Somebody with 100 rounds in a drum came in and just mowed down people. Do people going to movies have a right to be safe? You want to talk about rights, talk about the rights of the majority, too."

The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to discuss the proposed weapons ban on Wednesday.

The NRA’s CEO and senior vice president, Wayne LaPierre, is planning to testify as well as Mark Kelly, the husband of former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot when a gunman opened fire during a campaign event, reports AP.