Murphy learns guns before push for laws

SIMSBURY, Conn. (WTNH) -- U.S. Senator Chris Murphy who is pushing hard to have the nation's gun laws tightened spent part of the day at the State Police gun range in Simsbury.

At the state police gun range, Senator Murphy got to see up close, the sheer power of an assault weapon.

"Depending on where you have your magazines configured on your body, the quicker you can do a re-load," said one state trooper.

Murphy came here to learn about the difference between a semi-automatic weapon which fired 18 shots in about five seconds and a fully automatic rifle that can fire off 30 shots in roughly three seconds.

Police experts explained the often subtle differences, that make one rifle legal in Connecticut but a virtually identical model against the law.

"But the lethality of this weapon versus this weapon, right, the difference in folding stock has nothing to do with the lethality of the weapon," said Senator Murphy.

Murphy is pushing legislation that calls for tougher background checks, a specific list of banned military style weapons and a ban on the type of high capacity magazines that can make these weapons killing machines.

"I think we should get them off the street, I think that these kind of weapons that are derivatives of military style guns should still be in the hands of the military, but we want to get the definitions right," said Senator Murphy.

Before leaving the range the Senator was asked about the second amendment and if the legislation he's calling for violates an American's constitutional right to bear arms.

"The real second amendment has always given people of this country through their elected leaders the ability to decide what guns are reserved for the military, what weapons are reserved for the military and what weapons are available to the public," said Senator Murphy.

And Senator Murphy requested that demonstration by the state troopers so he'd have a better perspective on the gun control measures he's pushing for on Capitol Hill.