HARTFORD, Connecticut: Following a state Senate debate and vote to approve Connecticut's most comprehensive gun legislation since the laws put in place after the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting, a slate of gun control measures have been sent to Governor Ned Lamont's desk for signing.

In a statement, Democrat Lamont, who plans to sign the measure, said the legislation would "modernize our firearm safety laws in a smart and strategic way to help prevent tragedy from happening."

The measures include banning openly carrying firearms and prohibiting the sale of more than three handguns within 30 days to most people, as well as expanding Connecticut's current assault weapon ban to include other similar weapons, expanding safe-storage rules to more settings, and adding some domestic violence crimes to the list of disqualifications for gun ownership.

The measure, which is in response to a spate of recent mass shooting in the US, passed the Connecticut Senate 24-11, following a 96-51 House vote last week. Democrats control both chambers.

This year, almost half of US states have passed legislation aimed at restricting guns or improving school safety, but the measures depend on which party controls a specific legislature.

Republican-controlled states have backed the right to carry concealed guns without permits or for trained staffers to bring guns to school, while Democrat-led states have restricted semiautomatic weapons and expanded background checks and waiting periods for gun sales.

In Connecticut, Republican lawmakers have complained that the majority of Democrats are not targeting criminals who commit gun violence, but are punishing law-abiding gun owners.

In response, Lamont stressed that "the overwhelming majority of Connecticut residents" supports the changes.