(MCT) — House lawmakers clashed Thursday on the question of whether an assault weapons ban should be approved in Illinois, a split that put on full display how hard it will be to balance the rights of individual gun owners with the desire of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Pat Quinn to put the prohibition in place.

A volatile hearing before the House Judiciary Committee quickly established the dividing lines on the contentious issue and offered a preview of what's to come. Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, is expected to open up the full chamber as early as next week to a broader debate on gun control.