House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk, is listed as among those scheduled to address a gun control rally outside the State Capitol on Thursday, but a spokesman says he has withdrawn.
Cafero’s caucus is still working on reaching a consensus on what it measures it can support in response to the shooting deaths of 26 students and adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown. Until that happens, Cafero thought it best not to address a group seeking strong gun-control measures.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is among those who will address the crowd on the north side of the Capitol, beginning at 11 a.m.
The rally is organized by March for Change, which is affiliated with Connecticut Against Gun Violence.
UPDATE: Cafero issued a statement Friday about his decision not to attend.
“I was invited to speak at the March for Change event a few weeks back, as were all of the leaders. I was under the impression that this was a general rally that was sending a message to Connecticut by standing up against gun violence. I am, as I hope we all are, against gun violence. I have since learned that the event is not what I thought it was and this group has a very specific agenda that was not represented to me. As a leader of a caucus and a co-chairman of the task force I feel it is inappropriate to attend any rally that is promoting a specific legislative agenda which is why I have not participated in NRA rallies. I am taking in as much information as is available to me and will be working with my colleagues to produce rational solutions. That said, I have informed the organizers that I will not be participating for the very reasons I indicated above.”