Connecticut lawmakers vote in tough gun control measures
Family members of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting attend a news conference on January 14, 2013 in Newtown, Connecticut. Families of victims asked that there be a dialogue to find solutions on how to prevent similar future violence.
The state of Connecticut has enacted some of the toughest gun laws in the US as of April 1st, legislative leaders announced after coming to a consensus on the measures — a legislative breakthrough linked to the tragic Newtown shootings in December.
Lawmakers announced the deal on Monday after weeks of negotiation among legisilative leaders. A vote will be held later in the week in the Legislature, but the gun control measures are expected to easily pass, notes the New York Daily News.
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Among other requirements, all gun purchases will require background checks, and the state's assualt weapons ban will be expanded, wrote the BBC.
The sale of high capacity ammunition magazines will be banned as of January 1st 2014, and all owners of such magazines will also be required to register them with the state.
Further, the state would become the first in the nation to create a dangerous weapon offender registry.
"The deal is the most comprehensive package in the country because of its breadth," said Republican Senate leader John McKinney of the measure to Reuters. "I think it's a package that a majority of people in Connecticut will be proud (of) when we vote on Wednesday."
New court documents were released at the end of March that revealed disturbing new details about the shooting and the innner life of killer Adam Lanza — including the revelation that the entire devastating shooting was carried out in a mere five minutes.