A Republican congressman's idea to ban weapons within 1,000 feet of federal officials fell flat with House Speaker John Boehner.
New York Congressman Peter King's proposed law had been embraced by gun control advocates like New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, but Boehner doesn't want to discuss it, the Hill reports.
"Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said the Speaker would not support King's legislation," the newspaper says.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor reportedly is reserving judgment on the bill.
King told Fox News today he expects his proposal to forward despite Boehner's reported opposition.
He described his proposal as a ban against having a gun or concealed weapon within 1,000 feet of a member of congress or the senate, the president or vice president.
Asked if the proposed law would have stopped Jared Loughner, King answered, "absolutely not." But the law could be a tool "to give the police the extra power they would need so if they do see someone with a gun or someone who might have a gun, they can go up to them, talk to them, question them, and escort them away," he told the right-wing news outlet.
King's state has far stricter gun control laws than Arizona, which probably explains his openness to the idea. But so far, he hasn't come out in favor of another proposal put forward in the wake of Saturday's shooting -- Democratic Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy's idea to ban high-capacity magazines like the 31-round accessory in shooter Jared Loughner's Glock. We're waiting to hear back from his office on why he prefers his idea to McCarthy's.
Even if King's law manages to squeak through, it seems like it'd be another reason to have some security at pre-planned events with federal officials. Otherwise, no one would be armed except for the occasional assassin.