National Rifle Association, NRA, says Congress will not pass assault weapons ban

WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Rifle Association president says Congress is not likely to pass a new ban on assault weapons.

David Keene tells CNN's "State of the Union" that right now the powerful gun lobby has the support in Congress to block a new assault weapons ban, but he's not discounting any proposal backed by the full power of the White House.

Senior members of Congress have pledged to ban assault weapons and limit the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines like the one used to kill 27 people, most of them children, in Newtown, Conn., last month.

Vice President Joe Biden is expected to send a comprehensive package of recommendations for curbing gun violence to President Barack Obama on Tuesday, including universal background checks and bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.