BEFORE VOTE OCCURS
by Sharon Rondeau
(Apr. 2, 2013) — On Tuesday evening, PBS is reporting that Connecticut “got its tough new gun legislation” even before state legislators have taken a vote.
The writer then states that legislators are “expected to pass sweeping gun-control legislation” on Wednesday, April 3.
While North Dakota and West Virginia are considering the passage of pro-Second Amendment bills, Connecticut is considering further restrictions on its already-strict firearms laws, which include a ban on assault weapons.
A summary of the bipartisan bill was presented to the public on Monday.
On December 14, 2012, a mentally-disturbed man who was too young by state law to own a handgun murdered his mother, then went to Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed 20 first-graders and six educators.
The normal period for public comment to the bill is being skipped, as it was in the state of New York in January. The New York law has been challenged on the grounds that the exception cited to rush the bill to a vote was not adequate.
The provisions of the proposal include universal background checks, an expanded assault weapons ban to include up to 100 different firearms, and mandatory state-issued “eligibility certificates” for any would-be purchaser of ammunition or common firearms such as rifles and shotguns.
The National Rifle Association described the proposed bill as “egregious.” Some of those in favor of stricter gun control do not believe that the bill is comprehensive enough and have asked legislators to “show America the way.”
The bill will also “expand mental health research” in Connecticut.