
Thurman, who voted against the weapons ban in 1994, disputed claims from supporters of the ban that she and others have caved in to pressure from the National Rifle Association.

"This is a constitutional issue," said Thurman, whose 5th Congressional District also covers all or part of six other counties. "I took no money from the NRA in the '94 campaign because I wanted people to know I was truly  opposed to the principle of this."