State Senate Committee OKs Ammunition Limit

Legislation to ban magazines that hold more than 10 rounds advances with 12-3 vote

Gov. Pat Quinn on Monday applauded a state Senate committee's action advancing legislation that would ban ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.

"Over the past two days we have heard first-hand about the horrifying damage that high-capacity ammunition magazines can inflict. I am incredibly grateful to the Sandy Hook Elementary parents who have traveled to Illinois to share their stories and lend their voices to this important mission," he said. "We must work together on responsible gun laws to help ensure that what happened in Tucson, Ariz., Aurora, Colo., and Newtown, Conn. does not ever happen here."

The Illinois Senate's Executive Committee vote was 12-3.

Parents of two Sandy Hook elementary students killed by a Connecticut gunman last fall testified in favor of the legislation. Mark Barden is the father of seven-year-old Daniel Barden. Daniel was among 20 children fatally shot Dec. 14 in Newtown, Conn.

Barden said killer Adam Lanza consciously took higher-capacity magazines with him "to kill a lot more people and he did."

Park Ridge Democratic Sen. Dan Kotowski's legislation -- SB1002 -- would exempt police, military and shooting competitions. Todd Vandermyde of the National Rifle Association said he should have the same weapons as police to protect his family.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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