Police Group Calls for Gun Control Laws

A national law enforcement group called for gun-control measures, including expanding background checks for firearm purchasers and banning high-capacity ammunition magazines.

The National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence, an alliance of nine police leadership organizations, made its announcement at a Thursday press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

The group called on lawmakers to pass "effective, common-sense public safety measures strengthening gun laws, while not diminishing law-abiding gun owners' ability to own and use firearms," according to a statement from the group.

James Johnson, the Baltimore County, Md., police chief, said a high-capacity magazine like one used in the Aurora shooting "simply has no place in civilian hands," reports the Los Angeles Times .

"It is ridiculous to argue that hunters or civilians who own weapons for self-defense need a 100-round drum magazine," he said. "As we have seen, people don't stand a chance against this kind of firepower."