Hartford (AP) — U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy says the deadly shooting in Newtown has changed his plans as Connecticut's newest U.S. senator.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, the Democrat said his "Senate career will be much different" because of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, which is located in Murphy's congressional district.

Murphy said he'll judge himself as a new senator by whether or not he has "worked every hour and every day to make something good happen from these kids' deaths."

Murphy takes over the seat being vacated by the retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman in January.

In a speech in the Senate on Tuesday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal joined a growing group of lawmakers and other officials calling for reinstating a federal ban on assault weapons.