BC-CT-XGR--School Shooting-Legislature, 3rd Ld-Writethru,132

Conn. lawmakers split on party lines over guns

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ A bipartisan legislative working group is offering two lists of recommendations for addressing gun violence: one from the majority Democrats and another from the Republican members.

While some of the Democrats’ gun control proposals unveiled Tuesday go further than the Republicans’ ideas, such as expanding the definition of an assault weapon under Connecticut’s current assault weapons ban, there were some overlaps. Democrats also called for a ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines.

Both parties agree on universal background checks, stronger rules for storage of guns and expanded bans on armor-piercing bullets.

The two lists will be forwarded to legislative leaders, who will craft a final package of law changes in response to the Dec. 14 elementary school massacre in Newtown. An informational meeting is expected to be held before the full legislature votes.