NRA president says Congress will not pass weapons ban

by Eileen Sullivan, Associated Press |
National Rifle Association President David Keene arrives to speak at a news conference at the Willard Hotel December 21, 2012 in Washington, DC. This is the first public appearance that leaders of the gun rights group have made since a 20-year-old man used a popular assault-style rifle to slaughter 20 school children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, one week ago. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

National Rifle Association President David Keene arrives to speak at a news conference at the Willard Hotel December 21, 2012 in Washington, DC. This is the first public appearance that leaders of the gun rights group have made since a 20-year-old man used a popular assault-style rifle to slaughter 20 school children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, one week ago. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.