Obama calls for ban on assault weapons, Romney opposes during tonight's debate

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP)

President Barack Obama is calling for reintroducing legislation to ban assault weapons.

In discussing the issue at the presidential debate Tuesday night, Obama said weapons that were designed for soldiers at war don’t belong on the street.

After the mass shooting in Colorado last summer, Obama aides said that the president supports the ban that expired in 2004. But Obama had not called for reinstating it until the debate.

Republican candidate Mitt Romney repeated his opposition to banning assault weapons. He had supported a ban as governor of Massachusetts.

Romney says he’s not in favor of new pieces of legislation on guns.