U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is calling for more discussion about gun control after the shooting at a Connecticut school on Friday. (Photo courtesy flickr) 

By Metro News Service

WASHINGTON - Senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said the tragic shooting in Connecticut should lead to a "national conversation" on gun control. 

The Illinois Democrat said on "Fox News Sunday" that a calm discussion about the Second Amendment and the types of guns that are sold in America is needed. Durbin wondered why "anyone would need a military assault weapon, high capacity ammunition clips that really have no value whatsoever when it comes to sporting and hunting and even self defense," Durbin said.

Durbin added that politicians alone can't change gun laws and that regular citizens need to be included in the conversation.

"This conversation has been dominated in Washington by gun lobbies that have an agenda. We need for people, just ordinary Americans to come together and speak out and calmly reftect on how far we go," Durbin said.

Feinstein To reintroduce assault weapons bill

Senator Dianne Feinstein promises she will introduce a bill to reinstate the federal ban on assault weapons. Appearing on NBC's "Meet The Press," the California Democrat said that the bill will ban the sale, transfer, importation and possession of assault weapons. It will also ban ammunition clips of more than ten rounds.

The federal assault weapons ban was in effect from 1994 to 2004, but Congress allowed it to expire.