Schumer urges compromise on gun control

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- A leading advocate of gun control in the U.S. Senate said any effort to limit access to firearms needed to respect the Constitution.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Sunday Congress was so polarized over gun control that there needed to be recognition that Americans had a constitutional right to bear arms, although that right could be subject to some limitations.

"We need a new paradigm because both sides are in their corner and they could come to the middle," Schumer said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

Last week's shooting spree at a Connecticut elementary school revived the long-running debate over gun control and, Schumer said, could be a tipping point that could lead to congressional action on limiting access to assault weapons and keeping weapons away from people with psychological issues.

"Every (constitutional) amendment should have some balance and some limitation," Schumer said. "If we can come to the middle on that, maybe we can make some real progress, instead of each side being off in their corner with one side saying 'Ban guns, get rid of guns,' and the other side saying "Don't you touch anything about guns.'"