Quinn, Emanuel back Senate assault weapons moves - WGEM.com: Quincy News, Weather, Sports, and Radio

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Both Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel are praising an Illinois Senate committee's approval of a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.

In a party-line vote, the committee approved measures that would ban the possession, delivery, sale and transfer of semiautomatic handguns and rifles, but would allow current owners to keep them. High-capacity ammunition magazines would be restricted.

Quinn said late Wednesday he is very pleased the Public Health Committee took the step. He said "there is no place in Illinois for weapons designed to rapidly fire at human targets at close range."

In a statement, Emanuel said in order to protect children, families and communities, there is a need for "common-sense laws that provide the residents of our cities with the safety they deserve."