Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin expects the movie massacre in Colorado to result in no new gun laws, though he is bewildered by the opposition.
Durbin has been a supporter of banning the military-style weapons and large magazines that the Colorado offender used, and has pushed to re-institute the federal ban that was in effect from 1994-2004.
Durbin says banning weapons with high-capacity magazines is not a violation of the Second Amendment.
"Why in the world does anybody need a military assault weapon? Why? And why do you need a magazine, a clip, with 100 rounds in it? Tell me that's for sport, or self-defense, or target shooting? It's not."
No measure to reinstate the assault weapons ban has come up for a floor vote. The U.S. Department of Justice says the effect on overall crime of an assault weapons ban is likely to be small, because so few gun crimes involve assault weapons.
Durbin says these weapons are needed neither for self-defense nor for sporting purposes, and should be in the hands of the military and law enforcement only. He also expressed concern about the mental health of the suspect, wondering whether anybody could have been aware of his state of mind and prevented the rampage.
Meanwhile Governor Pat Quinn is calling for stricter gun laws in Illinois.
Gun-rights advocates have long argued that public safety would be improved if people were allowed to carry concealed firearms.
Illinois is the only state without any form of concealed carry for the general public. And Quinn says he'd oppose any attempt to permit concealed carry.
"The idea of allowing people to carry loaded weapons that are hidden on their person, and be able to go in public places - whether it's a movie theater or a shopping center [...] a sports stadium - I just don't think that's a good way to prevent violence."
Quinn says Illinois ought to "show the way" by renewing an effort to ban assault weapons and ammunition magazines with high capacities. He says legislators should take up those measures this year.
