SPRINGFIELD – As parents of the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy looked on, Illinois Senator Don Harmon used his position as chair of the Senate Executive Committee to help a measure that would limit the number of bullets in a gun magazine make it to the Senate floor.

“Our hearts go out to the victims of this tragedy," Harmon said. "And this legislation is one step we can take to avoid such tragedies in the future. Every time a gunman stops to reload, it gives his victims a chance to get away and gives law enforcement a chance to disarm him.”

The legislation, Senate Bill 1002, limits the sale of gun ammunition feeding devices to units that can hold 10 bullets or less. While it does not prohibit owning a large ammunition magazine, it does increase the criminal penalties for using a high capacity magazine while committing a violent crime. The Sandy Hook murderer used large capacity magazines to commit his crime.

“You don’t need a high capacity ammo magazine to defend yourself or to hunt,” the Oak Park Democrat continued. “The only real use for a high capacity is to hurt as many people as possible as quickly as possible.”

Four states – California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and New York – already limit magazines to 10 bullets or less. Chicago limits magazines to 12 bullets and Aurora to 15.