For the past week, we have heard an unending cacophony of calls for a national "conversation" on gun violence and gun control laws. We were all supposed to let go of our firmly held positions and actually listen to the other side so we could have a real debate and move toward a compromise position that would protect the American people. All of us except Nancy Pelosi.

"In the coming days and weeks, we will engage in a meaningful conversation and thoughtful debate about how to change laws and culture that allow this violence to continue to grow," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Monday. His was a call echoed ad nauseum on the left. But House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was not interested in any conversation, meaningful or not.

On Tuesday she was pushing for an immediate ban on "assault magazines," her name for magazine clips that hold a lot of ammunition. She told Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC that Newtown happened because "an impaired person had access to firepower that should be outlawed." She advocated banning large ammunition clips, then said "let's go down the larger path and ban the assault weapon. I think there's a better chance to do that now than ever."

She did not define what an "assault weapon" is.

The next day she officially pressed House Speaker John Boehner to hold a vote on a bill to ban large-capacity magazines by Saturday. "What we need are not more words. We need action," she said.

So much for the "conversation" we were supposed to have. Pelosi senses an opportunity to weaken the National Rifle Association and the Republican Party politically, and she is going to take it. If you disagree or have questions, just shut up; the U.S. House of Representatives - which exists to facilitate conversations - doesn't need to hear any of your words.