Senator Casey Will Vote For Assault Weapons Ban

By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Senator Bob Casey says he'll vote for a ban on assault weapons and large ammunition clips but there's another measure he'd like to see to curb gun violence. He's calling for full funding of federal programs for local law enforcement.

Three federal programs support crime fighting efforts at the local level and Senator Casey says they've been cut, collectively, by a quarter of a Billion dollars.

"The federal government can act here by increasing funding for proven strategies that we know will work."

The programs fund officers to do community policing, buy bullet-proof vests and help pay for programs that assist law enforcement, such as the Philadelphia district attorney's initiative to prevent recidivism.

"Yes, we're sad about what happened in Connecticut but there are far too many street corners in Philadelphia littered with teddy bears and balloons and candles for young lives lost much too soon," District Attorney Seth Williams said.

Williams and Casey say a greater federal investment would reduce crime.