Newtown Parents Urge Enforcement of Gun Laws Some parents of the young victims of the Newtown elementary school shooting are calling for better enforcement of Connecticut's gun laws and questioning why civilians would need semiautomatic, military-style weapons. Neil Heslin, whose 6-year-old son Jesse was one of the 20 first-graders killed in the Dec. 14 massacre, told a legislative subcommittee reviewing gun laws on Monday that he grew up with guns as a child and doesn't believe they should be banned. But he wants stricter regulations. He questioned why anyone needs assault-style weapons and large capacity magazines, urging gun rights advocates in the packed room to put themselves in his position. A handful of people shouted back to him about their Second Amendment rights. Heslin says there's no need for the weapons in homes or on the streets.