WASHINGTON (AP) — Fighting tears, the father of one of the first graders slain in the Newtown, Conn. mass shooting is begging the Senate Judiciary Committee to ban assault weapons.

A ban is not expected to pass Congress. But the father, Neil Heslin, on Wednesday urged lawmakers to consider the prohibition his son, Jesse, who was 6 years old.

The 50-year-old construction worker said he supports the Second Amendment right to bear arms, and backs sportsmen who like using firearms. But he said the Second Amendment wasn't written a time when firearms were as sophisticated as today's assault weapons.

Heslin spoke in support of a bill by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., that would ban assault weapons. Republicans at the hearing said the ban could violate the Constitution.