THE HEADLINES

NEW CALLS FOR STRICTER GUN LAWS RUN HEADLONG INTO CAPITOL HILL FIRING SQUAD: “WE’RE A PRO-GUN CONGRESS, AND HAVE BEEN FOR A WHILE.“ (CNN)

The national attention given to state and federal gun laws in the wake of the Arizona shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the death of six bystanders seems destined to to go nowhere with a “pro-gun” Congress that is even more firearm-friendly with Republicans regaining control of the House. The federal ban on assault weapons died in 2004 with little political outcry, and the spartan legislation focused on gun control since then have had little impact. Now gun control proponents are feeling bolder and are speaking out, but the results are likely to be underwhelming. The return of the ban on assault weapons is seen as unlikely to return and the only substantive legislation to be put forward since the Tucson shooting are small-scale measures aimed at specific forms of ammunition and banning guns from events with members of Congress. Even these meager bills are poised to fail.

is lawyers say there is a “real risk” of the WikiLeaks founder being handed over to the United States and held indefinitely at the infamous Guantanamo prison if he is extradited to Sweden. Assange’s defense team and supporters say there is increasing evidence that the U.S. government is preparing to do whatever it takes to spirit him off for trial and detention in America.

DEATH PENALTY REPEALED IN ILLINOIS, BUT FINAL SAY FROM THE GOVERNOR COULD GET CAUGHT UP IN POLITICS. (AP)

Both chambers of the Illinois state legislature have now passed a bill that would abolish capital punishment, with the measure receiving strong support from lawmakers as they send the legislation to the desk of Gov. Pat Quinn (D) for his signature. But Quinn may not be so easily swayed, facing a crisis of popularity in the state after tax hikes and a bruising reelection campaign, and being lobbied by Republicans opposed to the prospective ban insisting that the “national momentum” is with a “conservative” agenda. Illinois has been among the leaders in the nation of executing or sentencing to death wrongfully convicted persons, giving the abolition of the death penalty in this state a deeper meaning.

“THERE PROBABLY WILL NOT BE AN ARIZONA-STYLE IMMIGRATION BILL THAT PASSES THE FLORIDA SENATE.” (Miami Herald)

The words of Florida state Sen. Mike Bennett, the sponsor of a bill in the state legislature that copies almost word-for-word the controversial Arizona immigration law that conservatives have cheered and Hispanics and businesses have rallied in opposition to. While new Florida Gov. Rick Scott campaigned repeatedly on a pledge to bring the Arizona law or an equally tough position on “illegal immigrants” before and after he was elected, Bennett says the support for such legislation is not there, and that he introduced a virtual copy of the Arizona law to “start the conversation” about immigration. One of the most significant roadblocks for Florida conservatives is the strength of the Hispanic political community in the Sunshine state, with bipartisan representation that gives Hispanic lawmakers a key voice within the GOP. Also aligned against a tough immigration bill are state businesses that fear a Arizona-style law means more regulation and a loss of the cheap labor they thrive on, both documented and undocumented.

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