Connecticut Lawmakers Step Up

Connecticut lawmakers, responding to the people’s call to address gun violence, have passed the most comprehensive gun legislation in our nation’s history.  Governor Dan Malloy is expected to sign the bill into law today.

The bill adds more than 100 types of guns to the state’s list of banned assault weapons.  It limits the capacity of magazine clips to 10 rounds.  It bans the sale of amour piercing bullets and requires background checks for all gun sales.  It establishes safety standards for schools, allows mental health training for teachers and expands mental research within the state.  It creates the nation’s first registry for people convicted of crimes involving the use or threat of use of dangerous weapons.

Connecticut joins Colorado and New York as the only states to pass tough gun control laws.  Maryland is expected to follow suit in the near future.

Meanwhile, over the past year ten states have passed laws that actually weaken the gun laws currently on their books.

And in Washington six Senators have taken the coward’s way out, saying that they will filibuster any attempt to being any bill to the floor that restricts the use of firearms.

61% of Americans want more stringent gun control laws.  90% of Americans favor universal background checks for all gun purchases.  We applaud the Connecticut state legislature for responding to the will of the people.

But Washington D.C. is another matter.  Politicians in Washington don’t listen to the people.  They only listen to the constituents who fund their election campaigns.

Kudos to the Connecticut legislators for doing the right thing!  They have exhibited a sense of responsibility and political understanding that is foreign to the members of Congress.

What will it take to bring Washington to its senses?  Will another Adam Lanza need to roam the halls of Congress before our spineless leaders stand up to the NRA and the right wing conspiracy theorists?

Make no mistake…there are many more Adam Lanza’s out there. 

If Congress does nothing…it is only a matter time before we hear from them.