(MCT) — WASHINGTON — Sen. Bob Casey, who has long opposed new gun laws, said Wednesday that he had changed his views in the aftermath of last week’s shootings in Newtown, Conn., and would support bills to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips.

In an interview in his office, the ordinarily staid Casey, D-Pa., told The Inquirer that he was “haunted” by the images and reports of children killed in their school, and teachers slain trying to protect them. He said his wife confronted him as he reassessed the issue over the weekend.