Schumer calls for federal assault weapons ban, other gun restrictions

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Sunday called for three specific steps Congress can take to stop gun violence in the United States, starting with the restoration of the federal assault weapons ban.

"One is to ban assault weapons, try and reinstate the assault weapons bans," he said on CBS's "Face the Nation." "Second is to limit the size of clips to maybe no more than 10 bullets per clip, and third is to make it harder for mentally unstable people to get guns."

Schumer said any action on reforming gun laws has been difficult thus far because of political gridlock on Capitol Hill.

"We’ve been gridlocked," he said. "We need a new paradigm … Both sides are in their corner and they can come to the middle"

He added that, just as anti-gun control advocates need to be willing to compromise, those in favor of stronger gun laws need to acknowledge the Second Amendment rights of ordinary citizens.

"Those of us who are pro-gun control have to admit that there is a Second Amendment right to bear arms," he said.