RI a.g., police chief back assault weapons ban

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island's two top law-enforcement officials have called for the reinstatement of a federal ban on assault weapons.

Days after a gunman shot dead 20 children and six adults in a Connecticut elementary school, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin and State Police Supt. Col. Steven G. O'Donnell said Monday they'd like to see a reinstatement of the ban on the sale of assault weapons.

The Providence Journal reports that O'Donnell said assault weapons have one purpose, to kill people in war. He says civilians should not have assault weapons.

Kilmartin says authorities should examine what, if anything could have prevented the killings.

But he said he would support an assault-weapons ban. He says the issue is not about the right to bear arms, but to establish common sense policy.