SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Natalie Toro released the following statement after the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the General Assembly’s assault weapons ban:

 "As a kindergarten teacher, I am horrified each time I see my 5-year-old students have mass shooter drills and when I see the worry on their parents' faces because school shootings carried out with assault weapons have become commonplace in our country. Assault weapons are designed for military use to inflict mass casualties and have absolutely no place in our neighborhoods. I'm encouraged that the Illinois Supreme Court also recognizes the dangers these weapons pose to our communities and has agreed with the legislature’s ban. This senseless gun violence must end.”