What to Know on Gun Safety as 2020 Legislative Session Begins in Connecticut

Connecticut’s legislative session started yesterday, and state lawmakers have the opportunity to pass common-sense gun safety bills this year. Here’s what to know on three policies that could prevent future gun violence in the state if enacted: 

Extreme Risk Protection Order Modernization: Connecticut was one of the first states in the nation to enact a law that helps keep firearms out of the hands of people in crisis – and one study showed that the law reduced firearm suicide by 14%. This session, Connecticut lawmakers have the chance to strengthen this law by allowing family and household members who recognize that their loved ones are in crisis to ask a court to temporarily remove their firearms. This new law would give family members a tool to stop people in crisis from harming themselves or others. 
 
Ending Bulk Purchasing: Up to 25% of handguns recovered following the commission of a crime were purchased in a sale with multiple weapons – and data shows that laws limiting the number of firearms an individual can purchase help combat gun trafficking. By ending bulk purchasing, Connecticut can help keep guns out of the wrong hands.

Increasing Funding for Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Programs: Community-based violence intervention programs apply a localized approach to gun violence prevention that are well-suited to address gun violence in Connecticut’s hardest-hit neighborhoods. Programs like Project Longevity help stop gun violence before it happens by de-escalating potentially violent conflicts, providing case management support services, and transforming community norms around violence. Connecticut should take steps to properly fund these vital programs that are keeping communities safe, whether through an ammunition tax or other means.

The evidence is clear: common-sense gun safety laws can help stop tragic shootings in Connecticut. 

If you have any questions about this legislation or would like to speak with a volunteer with the Connecticut chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America on 2020 legislative priorities, please do not hesitate to reach out.