CHICAGO – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin campaigned in his home state Friday for gun control legislation he co-sponsored in Washington this week, including an assault weapons ban.

The Illinois Democrat, who was joined at a Chicago news conference by
the city’s police superintendent, acknowledged that it will be difficult to get the legislation passed but said he is optimistic nonetheless. He echoed a sentiment many others have expressed
over the past month: that the slayings of 20 small children and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school was the “tipping point”
that should persuade lawmakers to enact tougher gun laws.

“What will it take to move Congress when it comes to sensible gun laws? It took Newtown, Connecticut.,” Durbin said. “Now the conversation is much more serious and the opportunities are dramatically better.”