US Gun Shop
Even if a background checks bill squeaks through the Senate, it stands little chance in the House, which is controlled by the GOP and dominated by conservative wings of both the Republican and Democratic parties. Reuters

Connecticut has become the fourth state to propose or enact gun control laws since the Dec. 14 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that shocked the nation. It joins Maryland in preparing to sign bills into law. New York and Colorado have already done so.

The law, which passed Connecticut's House of Representatives early Thursday in a 105-44 vote and is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Dannel Malloy as early as today, has been called one of the strictest gun control laws in the nation. Here's the rundown:

- It bans the sale of large-capacity magazines, permitting only those that hold up to 10 ten rounds;
- Adds more than 100 types of “long guns” to the state’s list of banned weapons;
- Prohibits armor-piercing bullets;
- Closes the so-called “gun show loophole” that permitted firearms transactions at weapons expos without federal criminal background checks;
- Enhances school security measures; and
- Boosts mental health research and teacher training.

House Minority Leader Larry Cafero, a Republican, tried to assure gun enthusiasts that the state wasn’t coming after their arsenals, "so long as they follow our rules and register.”

"Are there tighter restrictions on their use, etc.?” he said, according to CNN. “Absolutely. We also were able to see as part of this legislation the repeal of early release for violent criminals."

Once the governor signs the bill into law, the state will join New York and Colorado in passing tighter gun control laws since the shooting that killed 20 children and six adults at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school. Maryland’s state congress also passed legislation on Wednesday.

At the end of the day, it’s a simple bill that puts us in the right direction,” Del. Jon Cardin of Baltimore County told CBS.

Here are the full texts of bills and laws that have passed in the states since the shooting.

New York SAFE Act (S2230), signed into law on Jan. 15.

Maryland’s Firearms Safety Act (SB 281) passed the Senate on Feb. 28 and the House on Wednesday.

Connecticut’s SB 1160 (An Act Concerning Gun Violence Prevention And Children's Safety), passed the Senate on Wednesday.

Colorado’s HB 13-1229 (Background Checks for Gun Transfers) and HB 13-1224 (Prohibiting Large-capacity Ammunition Magazines), both signed into law on March 20.