Washington ( CNN ) -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday that a proposed ban on semi-automatic firearms modeled after military assault weapons has no chance of passing the chamber , but he wants to ensure a vote on it will occur . The proposal to update a similar 1994 ban that expired a decade later was one of four measures passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee in response to the Connecticut school massacre in December . Reid , D-Nevada , told reporters he wo n't keep the proposed ban in gun legislation heading to the full Senate for consideration because including it would guarantee the measure would be blocked by a Republican filibuster . The ban proposed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein , D-California , and fiercely opposed by the National Rifle Association , Republicans and some Democrats would get fewer than 40 votes , Reid said , far below the threshold needed to defeat any filibuster or pass the Senate . What 's in Feinstein 's gun bill ? Instead , Feinstein could propose the ban as an amendment to the gun legislation on the Senate floor in order to get a vote on it , Reid said . President Barack Obama supports Feinstein 's proposal . The other proposals passed by the Judiciary Committee would expand background checks on gun sales , toughen laws against firearms trafficking and straw purchases , and design steps to improve school safety . Reid 's move does n't come as a surprise as he has signaled for weeks he would only allow a vote on an assault weapons amendment . `` I have to get something on the floor , '' Reid said . Feinstein said she was `` disappointed '' with Reid 's decision , which he told her about in a private meeting on Monday . Feinstein : NRA is 'venal ' She acknowledged that other provisions of a gun-control package might have a better chance of passing without the controversial assault weapons ban . `` The enemies on this are very powerful , '' Feinstein said . `` I 've known that all my life . '' Nevertheless , Feinstein said the issue was very important to her and she would not stop pursuing it . `` I 'm not going to lay down and play dead , '' she told CNN 's `` The Situation Room . '' Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois , the Democratic whip , told CNN the proposed ban would make crafting broader legislation harder to accomplish . `` Harry is trying to put together a base package that will get 60 votes on the floor , '' Durbin said . It is unclear , however , if any of the measures ultimately would clear the Senate . `` All these issues are important and I 'm going to what I can to make sure we have a fair , sound debate on this , '' Reid said . `` I want something to succeed . '' Reid said he would schedule floor debate shortly after the Senate returns from its upcoming recess in April . Feinstein describes feelings during exchange with 'arrogant ' colleague . CNN 's Ted Barrett , Tom Cohen and Ashley Killough contributed to this report .
Sen. Harry Reid says the proposed ban on some firearms will n't get enough votes . Reid will introduce gun legislation without the ban to ensure it clears a GOP majority . He says the ban 's sponsor , Sen. Dianne Feinstein , can then offer it as an amendment . NEW : Feinstein says she is disappointed , but she n't back down .