Petition to charge Sen. Feinstein with treason soars past White House threshold

A petition started on the White House website seeking to charge Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) with treason has crossed the threshold needed for an official response.

The petition, created last month, claims that Feinstein's proposed assault weapons ban is a violation of the Second Amendment, which guarantees Americans right to keep and bear arms. Feinstein promised to introduce the assault weapons ban on the first day of the 113th Congress in the wake of the tragic Newtown elementary school shooting.

"She is actively working to destroy the 2nd amendment with her 2013 assault weapons ban," the petition reads. "For this reason we the people of the united States petition for her to be tried in Federal Court for treason to the Constitution."

As of Tuesday, the petition had more than 27,000 signatures, which is 2,000 more than required for an official response from the White House.

The assault weapons ban would prohibit the sale of more than 100 military-style firearms, according to a statement issued by Feinstein. The proposed law also targets large ammunition magazines, which have repeatedly been used in mass shootings.

A previous assault weapons ban that expired in 2004 was also authored by Feinstein.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said Monday that a similar petition seeking the deportation of Piers Morgan would receive a response.

"In the meantime, it is worth remembering that the freedom of expression is a bedrock principle in our democracy," he added.