Peter I. Berman

Connecticut’s years’ of stagnant economic growth/employment amidst the nation’s most vigorous economic post-War recovery means there are serious structural problems that will likely take many years and even decades to resolve. We’re the nation’s only state with a decade-long stagnant economy. That we are sandwiched in between two of the nation’s most vigorous states — New York and Massachusetts — amplifies the problem.

If ever there was an issue warranting public debate and reform its our annual toll of about 14,000 gun homicides. Most involve deaths in our inner cities committed by single shot pistols and revolvers. We have more gun homicides than the entire developed western world. And our 300 million guns in civilian hands dwarfs gun ownership in the entire developed western world. Some 100 million were acquired illegally through the private markets or theft. And it’s these weapons largely responsible for our grim annual gun homicide rate.

Mass shootings encourage vigils and calls for Congress to “do something.” But with. 300 million firearms in circulation, 100 million reportedly illegally owned, it’s far from obvious what to do.

Voters are getting their hopes up that a new governor will bring new life to our flagging economy and resolve our long running state fiscal crisis. Not only is Connecticut widely viewed as the nation’s most mismanaged state, but jobs remain unchanged since 2000 amidst the nations most vigorous economic expansion. And there’s a well defined Exodus of jobs, firms and residents.