It has been just 104 days since that dread day in Newtown, but some in our state legislature seem forgetful.
In the interim, California, Colorado and New York enacted ambitious yet reasonable and Constitutionally compliant gun safety laws. Legislators in each state deliberated thoughtfully and carefully, but also with urgency commensurate to the dangers that necessitated such laws. Conversely, our own state legislature has yet to advance, let along enact, any meaningful legislation.
Polls show overwhelming public support for a ban on sales of military style assault weapons, prohibition of the sale and possession of high capacity magazines, and requirements for comprehensive, universal background checks on all sales or transfers of weapons and ammunition. More importantly, credible research and experience indicates such measures will be effective in reducing gun violence.
Despite the virtuous examples of other states, overwhelming public support, compelling empirical evidence, and strong encouragement from Governor Malloy, Attorney General Jepsen and law enforcement, our legislature has yet to act. Recent legislative hearings have been discouraging. Gun manufacturers have reportedly bused large numbers of their employees to public hearings in order to pack meeting rooms and witness lists. The NRA — the gun industry’s lobbying organization — has likewise mobilized to misrepresent the will of the people of Connecticut. Some legislators may be misled or intimidated by these tactics. Others may just be too ideologically rigid to even contemplate taking corrective action.
For examples of the latter, one need only watch certain legislators’ responses to the dignified, credible, and impressive testimony of Lestina Trainor, a Redding resident, at the March 15 hearing in Hartford (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_3x-R4dS4A). In the short time she was allowed, Ms. Trainor dismantled the opposing arguments against sensible gun regulation. In response, Senator Tony Guglielmo and Representative David Yaccarino dismissively “explained” to Ms. Trainor that her focus on assault weapons and high capacity magazines was misguided. Representative Yaccarino went on to claim that hammers cause more injuries each year than assault weapons; it apparently never occurred to Representative Yaccarino that while hammers may occasionally be employed as weapons, a hammer didn’t kill twenty first-graders and six educators in Newtown, nor the multitudes at Columbine, Virginia Tech, Tucson, Aurora, and so many others. Their arguments disrespect Newtown and the thousands of voters who want a change.
Edmund Burke’s purported observation, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing,” is an essential truth. Do your part to combat the evil of gun violence, by calling Speaker Rep. Brendan Sharkey (860-240-8577), House Minority Leader Rep. Larry Cafero (860-240-0028), House Majority Leader Rep. Joe Aresimowicz (860-240-8581), and Senate Minority Leader Senator John McKinney (860-240-8846). Firmly, but respectfully, demand they move forward with comprehensive and effective gun safety laws in Connecticut. Call Rep. John Frey (800-842-1423) and Senator Toni Boucher (800-842-1421) and respectfully demand they more actively and publicly lobby their leadership and fellow legislators. Call repeatedly until a strong law passes. Remember Newtown.
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The Ridgefield Democratic Town Committee supplies this column.