More than three months after the massacre of 26 people in Newtown, Ct., Connecticut legislative leaders have agreed on what they called the most far-reaching gun-legislation package in the U.S., reports the New York Times. It would require new state eligibility certificates for the purchase of any rifle, shotgun, or ammunition; mandate that people convicted of any of 40 weapons offenses register with the state; require universal background checks for all gun sales, and substantially expand an existing ban on assault weapons. The package includes a ban on the future sale of high-capacity magazines with more than 10 bullets, but despite a dramatic plea from relatives of Newtown victims, legislative leaders did not include a ban on their ownership. New York State banned ownership of high-capacity magazines effective next January. Ron Pinciaro of Connecticut Against Gun Violence was disappointed that the high-capacity magazine ban was not approved and that the bill would have little effect on handgun violence. Still, he said, “When you take all the elements and compare it, I think you could judiciously say this is the strongest bill in the nation.”