Neil Heslin, the father of a six-year-old boy who was slain in the Sandy Hook massacre in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14, holds a picture of himself with his son Jesse and wipes his eye while testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Fighting tears, the father of one of the first graders slain in the Newtown, Conn. mass shooting is begging the Senate Judiciary Committee to ban assault weapons.
A ban is not expected to pass Congress. But the father, Neil Heslin, on Wednesday urged lawmakers to consider the prohibition for his son, Jesse, who was 6 years old.
The 50-year-old construction worker said he supports the Second Amendment right to bear arms, and backs sportsmen who like using firearms. But he said the Second Amendment wasn't written during a time when firearms were as sophisticated as today's assault weapons.
Heslin spoke in support of a bill by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., that would ban assault weapons. Republicans at the hearing said the ban could violate the Constitution.
