BY PATRICIA MURPHY, GREG BLUESTEIN, TIA MITCHELL

AJC

WEAPONS BAN. Monday’s shooting at an elementary school in Nashville led to a renewed push from Democrats to reinstate a ban on assault-style rifles like the AR-15, which are frequently used in mass shootings, including in Nashville.

In a letter, U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Marietta, joined other Democrats to ask House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan to schedule a vote on legislation to ban assault weapons.

“It is too late for the victims we have already lost, but it is not too late to prevent more victims in the future,” they wrote. “We know that while assault weapons are available on the market, shooters will use these readily available weapons of war to commit mass murders in our schools, places of worship, grocery stores, movie theaters, malls, and nightclubs. They will keep coming for us, and for our children.”

Six people, including three 9-year-olds, were killed at the Nashville school before police officers shot down the assailant.

It is unlikely the Republican-controlled House will allow any measures that limit access to guns to come up for a vote.

Republicans have, however, temporarily slowed down on legislation sponsored by Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Athens, to loosen gun laws. A hearing scheduled for Tuesday on Clyde’s proposal to ease rules on pistol braces was postponed in light of the shooting.