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‘Enough is Enough,’ CT marchers tell Washington

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WASHINGTON — The March for Our Lives attracted thousands of students and supporters from Connecticut and hundreds of thousands from across the nation demanding change – not only in the nation’s gun laws but the makeup of Congress. Organized by students after 17 people were killed at a Parkland, Fla., high school last month, it also mobilized activists who have been fighting gun violence since 20 schoolchildren and six educators were slaughtered in Newtown a little more than five years ago. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Politics, "March for Our Lives", Congress, Guilford High School, gun control, gun violence, newtown, protesters

Rubio to introduce ‘red-flag’ bill, as will Blumenthal

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WASHINGTON — Sen. Marco Rubio on Wednesday said he is introducing a bill that would provide federal grants to states for establishing gun violence restraining orders – and said he doubted a broader one Sen. Richard Blumenthal plans to introduce Thursday would pass the Senate. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Civil and criminal justice, Politics, Washington, Bill Nelson, gun control, gun violence restraining orders, Marco Rubio, Parkland

Trump asks Murphy to help draft ‘comprehensive’ gun bill

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President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he wanted Sen. Chris Murphy to join three Senate colleagues in drafting a “comprehensive” gun bill that is “very powerful” on expansion of the FBI background check system for gun buyers. “We are determined to turn grief into action,” Trump said at a White House gathering with lawmakers to discuss ways to combat gun violence. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Civil and criminal justice, Politics, Washington, background checks, bump stocks, comprehensive bill, Donald Trump, Elizabeth Esty

Despite Parkland, gun control push faces wave of opposition in Congress

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WASHINGTON — Despite President Donald Trump’s willingness to support modest tweaks to the nation’s gun laws, Congress may not approve much change as lawmakers remain entrenched in a mostly partisan split over the issue, despite the national debate touched off over the Parkland, Fla., massacre. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Civil and criminal justice, Politics, Washington, arming teachers, assault rifles, bump stocks, Chris Murphy, CPAC

Sandy Hook parents tell Trump there’s no need to arm teachers

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WASHINGTON — The parents of two children who lost their lives in the Sandy Hook school shooting told President Donald Trump the nation does not need to arm teachers, but should prevent mass shootings by training teachers to respond when a child displays certain signs of trouble. “Sandy Hook Promise has created something that works,” said Mark Barden, holding up a photo of his slain 6-year-old son Daniel. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Civil and criminal justice, Politics, Washington, arming teachers, Betsy DeVos, bump stocks, Colombine, Dannel Malloy

School massacre provokes calls for ‘red flag’ laws like one CT pioneered

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WASHINGTON — The school shooting in Parkland, Fla., has opened a debate on whether more states should do what Connecticut was first to do — pass laws that allow the confiscation of weapons from those who are believed to be a danger to others and themselves. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Civil and criminal justice, Politics, Washington, Donald Trump, Everytown for Gun Safety, Fla, gun violence, Joe Courtney

CT lawmakers, NRA back gun buyer background check bill

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WASHINGTON – Rep. Elizabeth Esty, usually at odds with gun rights groups over firearm legislation, is promoting a bill that the National Rifle Association likes, too. Esty, D-5th District, is a co-sponsor of the U.S. House version of the “Fix NICS Act of 2017,” legislation that aims to prevent individuals like the shooter in Sutherland, Texas, from slipping through the cracks of the federal gun buyer background check system. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Civil and criminal justice, Politics, Washington, Chris Murphy, Elizabeth Esty, gun control, John Cornyn, National Instant Criminal Background Check System

Newtown activists come to an election-changed Washington

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WASHINGTON — On their first pilgrimage here since the election, relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and other incidents of gun violence and their allies asked President-elect Donald Trump to abandon his hard-line stance against gun control. But chances of that are slim. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Politics, Chris Murphy, Donald Trump, Elizabeth Esty, FBI backgrournd checks, gun control, gun violence, newtown

Esty and Cope disagree, if amiably, on gun control and climate change

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DANBURY — America’s approach to regulating the sale of guns was the brightest line dividing U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District, and Republican Clay Cope, on Thursday in the first debate of what’s been an unexpectedly quiet congressional campaign. Another wedge issue was climate change: Cope is unsure about its cause, saying, “I’m not a scientist.” Continue Reading →

Filed under: Politics, Clay Cope, climate change, Elizabeth Esty, gun control, sandy hook

Murphy, other gun control advocates, in search of political wins

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WASHINGTON — This political season, gun control advocates are bolstered by Hillary Clinton’s embrace of their issue and an increase in the political cash they’ve raised, even as they continue to be outgunned by the National Rifle Association when it comes to campaign spending. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Politics, Washington, Chris Murphy, Dawn Hochsprung, elections, Fund to End Gun Violence, gun control, Independence USA

Murphy Q&A: Congress ‘is a place that’s fundamentally broken’

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WASHINGTON — Freshmen senators, especially those belonging to the party out of power in the chamber, generally keep a low profile in deference to their elders. But Sen. Chris Murphy has clearly broken with tradition. The Connecticut Mirror interviewed the senator about his relatively short, but very busy, time in the Senate and his plans for the future. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Politics, Washington, Chris Murphy, filibuster, gun control, Hillary Clinton, Nicole Hockley, NRA