Published on Apr 4, 2013

Connecticut’s governor signed tough new gun ownership rules into law, four months after a gunman opened fire on an elementary school in the state, killing 20 children and six adults. The measure passed in the state assembly makes Connecticut the third state after New York and Colorado to tighten gun laws in the wake of the December 14 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. More than 100 makes of rifles – including the Bushmaster AR-15 used by killer Adam Lanza in the Newtown school – were added to an existing, but now vastly expanded ban on military-style weapons. In addition, ammunition clips holding more than 10 rounds must now be registered, while new sales of the large clips are banned.

 

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John Bacon and Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY2:59p.m. EDT April 4, 2013

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy signed the nation’s most far-reaching gun control bill Thursday, the ceremony in Hartford concluding several emotional weeks of debate and compromise since the state was rocked and the world stunned by the mass murder of children in Newtown.

“This is a profoundly emotional day for everyone in this room,” Malloy, a Democrat, said moments before signing the bill. He added that he hoped the state’s bipartisan effort would provide an example for Congress.

“When 92% of Americans agree that every gun sale should be subject to a background check, there is no excuse” not to make it federal law, Malloy said.

The Connecticut law adds more than 100 weapons to the state’s ban on assault weapons, limits the capacity of ammo magazines and requires background checks for all weapon sales, including at gun shows.

It also establishes the nation’s first statewide registry for people convicted of crimes involving dangerous weapons. Access to the registry would be available only to law enforcement.

READ: Bill summary

Nicole Hockley’s 6-year-old, Dylan, was among the 20 children who died when Adam Lanza began shooting inside Sandy Hook Elementary on Dec. 14. He also killed six adult staff before killing himself. Hockley said she appreciated the bipartisan political effort that led to the law.

“While I am grateful for the progress being made, I wish more than anything that I was just back at home waiting for both Dylan and Jake to come home from school,” she said.

Hockley said her effort to press the law forward was one way to honor her son’s life. “We want Newtown to be known not for tragedy, but for transformation,” Hockley said.

 

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