CHICAGO – Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined several Illinois mayors on Thursday in calling for a statewide ban on the kind of weapons used during the school shooting rampage in Connecticut.

The mayors gathered at a news conference designed to show that support for tougher gun laws comes from both political parties and communities big and small. Emanuel said all Illinois communities could find "common ground" in supporting bans on assault rifles and high-capacity ammunition clips, and criminal background checks for anyone purchasing a firearm.

Emanuel, who leads a city that for years has been a national leader in gun control initiatives, said that even as Washington grapples with the issue, Illinois elected officials must push for tougher local gun laws.