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FROM TODAY'S WH PRESS BREIFING.

Q The gun ban vote on -- I'm wondering your reaction to having the gun ban extension attached to the bill protecting gun makers from liability?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, one -- and I talked a little bit about this yesterday -- the legislation before the Senate on the gun manufacturing liability issue is about stopping lawsuit abuse. The President views it as a lawsuit reform issue. The House passed legislation to address these important reforms. The Senate should pass it, as well, to implement meaningful reforms. Our concern is there are some that are using amendments to try to undermine this important legislation and these important reforms.

Q You're attaching things that they think are equally justified. Is there -- what's wrong with that?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, but --

Q You supported the gun law -- the gun ban extension.

MR. McCLELLAN: The President's views are very well-known. And first and foremost, when it comes to crimes committed with guns, it's important that we strictly enforce our laws. And that's exactly what this administration is doing. I would remind you that federal firearm prosecutions have increased 68 percent in the past three years. This has been a high priority for the Department of Justice. We have also implemented Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a comprehensive strategy to vigorously enforce existing gun laws and deter crimes committed with guns, working with federal, state, and local prosecutors and law enforcement officials.

And I think that there are some that would use amendments to try to undermine this important initiative to stop frivolous lawsuits. This legislation, the gun manufacturing liability legislation, will prevent frivolous litigation affecting a lawful American industry and the thousands of workers it employs. It will help prevent abuse of the legal system and help curb the growing problem of frivolous lawsuits. And so I think that we have to view it in that context. The House passed legislation to do that, and the Senate should also pass that legislation to implement meaningful reforms --

Q How does it undermine it to have the assault weapons ban?

Q Won't the assault weapons ban save lives --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think you know the way the legislative process works. And there are some that would use amendments simply to undermine this piece of legislation, while also pushing for -- while also pushing for --

Q How is it undermining it? If it's something the President wants, it's like, you know, all the jollier. I mean, if he gets the reform and he gets the extension, why is that bad?

MR. McCLELLAN: David, I think, one, these are two separate issues. You have the issues you mentioned and then you have an issue involving frivolous litigation. The President is a strong supporter of stopping frivolous lawsuits and stopping lawsuit abuse. That's the context in which he views this legislation.

His views are very well-known on the other issues, as well. But there are some --

Q But you still haven't explained why it's bad --

MR. McCLELLAN: -- that know that with these amendments, that this legislation will not pass the Congress. And this is important legislation that will bring about meaningful reform.

Q Well, let me just -- what a lot of people are saying is, look, the President was for an extension of the assault weapons ban, but really wasn't going to do anything to fight for it, hoping that it would die. Yet, he's for immunity for the gun manufacturers. So if he's for both these things --

MR. McCLELLAN: You mischaracterized the first part of it. These are separate issues. These are different issues.

Q -- why not fight for both of them then?

MR. McCLELLAN: His views are very well-known, David. I just said that. But --

Q His views are separate from the amount of political capital he's willing to expend.

MR. McCLELLAN: No, no, there are some that recognize that by passing certain amendments to this issue that is about lawsuit reform, that they will undermine the legislation, that it will not have the votes necessary to pass Congress. We're working to pass this important piece of lawsuit reform.

Q Scott, on that point, which is more of a poison pill, the assault weapons ban extension or closing the gun show loophole?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, again, I think I'll -- I think that the amendments that are being pursued, some are more interested in undermining the legislation. You mentioned a couple of them. Our views are very well-known on those issues.

Q It seems that extending the ban isn't so much of a poison pill as closing the gun show loophole.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, you have to -- you always have to look at the votes. I mean, there are two chambers that have to pass the legislation. One chamber passed this legislation and passed meaningful reforms on the gun manufacturing liability issue, and now the other chamber is trying to pass amendments on to that legislation. And I think some are simply more interested in undermining that piece of legislation than they are in necessarily getting the other legislation passed.

Q If I could just ask this one more time, in terms of the balance of what's needed for American policy. It's your view that the merits of tort reform and getting that passed are more important than measures that police departments across America say will save lives?

MR. McCLELLAN: That's not what I said, Mark. I said this is an important piece of legislation that has already passed the House, that has the support in the House to be implemented. And now there are some in the Senate who are seeking to undermine that legislation with certain amendments. That's not the issue here. The issue here is about passing a meaningful piece of lawsuit reform.

This legislation, I would point out, preserves the right of individuals to have their day in court with civil liability actions. They're spelled out in the piece of legislation. We would urge Congress to pass this legislation as it is.