WASHINGTON - The Senate began debate on a controversial new bill on Tuesday that would classify all registered firearms as children, extending to firearms the same constitutional rights enjoyed by minors.  Proponents of the bill say it will strengthen families and protect gun owners from the Obama administration's efforts to "take all the guns".
     "If Americans want to protect their guns from this president, then we need to do the sensible thing and make them children in the eyes of the law," the bill's co-sponsor, freshman Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), said as debate began.  "Let's see the president try to ban semi-automatic children."

     "So many law-abiding gun owners already consider their guns to be their babies, so it makes perfect sense that we should codify that into law," said the bipartisan bill's other co-sponsor, Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND).  "Because, if there are practical, common sense steps we can take to protect our children, we have an obligation to push back against the extremists and special interests to make sure our children are safe.  And by 'children,' of course, I mean guns."