2/3/21 Newsletter: Online DMV, Gun Violence Survivors' Awareness Week & Teen Dating Violence Awareness

February 26, 2021
February 1st through February 7th is National Gun Violence Survivors’ week. This week we honor every survivor who must live with the trauma of gun violence every day. By February, more people in the United States are killed with guns than are killed with guns in other high-income countries in an entire year. 
While Connecticut still has ways to go with gun safety and education, here are a few pieces of legislation that our state has passed throughout the past few years:
  • Ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines
  • Requirement for owners of pistols and revolvers to safely store their weapons somewhere inside the car any time they leave their gun in an unattended vehicle
  • “Ethan’s Law”: Requires all firearms, loaded and unloaded, to be safely stored in homes occupied by minors under 18
  • Ban on “ghost guns”, or homemade firearms, due to lack of inspection and serial number. Anyone who makes a firearm must register it with the state. 

Due to these pieces of legislation, Connecticut ranks 3rd in the nation on gun control. However, there is still more work to be done.
 
According to the Gifford Law Center, Connecticut can improve gun safety by creating:

  • Bulk firearm purchase restrictions;
  • Handgun design safety standards; and
  • Microstamping requirements. 

This week, support gun violence survivors by sharing their stories on momentsthatsurvive.org with the hashtag #GVSurvivorsWeek. And continue to support our survivors throughout the year by educating yourself and your community about gun safety. https://giffords.org/lawcenter/gun-laws/states/connecticut/
 

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week 
 

This month is Teen Dating Violence Awareness month. One in three girls in the US is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner. It is imperative that we educate our young people about the signs and dangers of physical and emotionally abusive relationships. 
 
Questions to ask and discuss with them are, does your partner:

  • Stalk or harass you, such as follow you or show up at your home or place of employment uninvited?
  • Get suddenly angry, refuse to compromise, and constantly blame you for his/her mistakes?
  • Act overly jealous about your relationships with others and prevent you from seeing family and friends?
  • Control your means of communication, such as your phone and computer?
  • Humiliate or embarrass you in front of your friends and family?
  • Hit, push, slap or act in an otherwise violent manner towards you?
  • Threaten to hurt you, your children, your family members or your pets?
  • Force you to have sex or perform other sexual acts when you do not want to?
In addition to understanding these signs of an abusive relationship, it is vital that all friends, parents, and teachers have access to the appropriate resource to help someone in an abusive relationship. 
 
If you, or someone you know, is in an abusive relationship: 
  • Call 911 if you’re in immediate danger.
  • Always trust your gut – if you think you’re in danger, you probably are.
  • Don’t minimize your abuser’s behavior or the level of danger present.
  • Express specific concerns to the victim and avoid being judgmental;
  • Place the blame on the abuser and not victim;
  • Connect with a certified domestic violence advocate at Safe Connect by visiting CTSafeConnect.org or texting/calling (888) 774-2900.
  • Work with your local domestic violence agency to develop a safety plan.
  • Speak with a Family Violence Victim Advocate at your local domestic violence agency about the legal options that are available, such as restraining orders.

 
This education is essential to breaking the cycles of domestic violence. Please consider these resources to identify any victims you may know, and to provide support. 
 

DMV Offering Online Driver's License Renewal
 

We’ve all felt the frustration of having to wait in line at the DMV to renew a driver’s license or access other DMV services. Thankfully, the State announced today that in the coming weeks, you will be able to renew your driver’s license, obtain your driving history or change your address all online and from the comfort of your home. This is part of the State’s efforts to modernize state government and add convenience for the consumer.
Today’s announcement expands and builds upon the pilot program for online driver’s license renewal initially rolled out by the DMV in November 2020. More than 20,000 individuals have already successfully renewed their driver's license or non-driver ID cards online within the last 45 days.
 
Eligible residents will receive an invitation by mail or email to complete their transaction online and make an electronic payment via credit or debit card and receive their license or non-driver ID by mail within 20 days.
 
It is important to note that this expansion of online services does not mean that these services will not also be available in-person at DMV and AAA offices and locations throughout the state.
 
This announcement is welcome news at any time, but it is especially critical during the pandemic.
 
All of the DMV’s services can be found online at ct.gov/dmv.
 

COVID-19 Update
 

The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases, deaths, and tests in Connecticut. It is important to note that these newly reported updates include data that occurred over the last several days to a week. All data in this report are preliminary, and data for previous dates will be updated as new reports are received and data errors are corrected.
For a series of interactive graphs and maps that provide additional data, including metrics related to age, gender, and race/ethnicity, as well as data broken down by every town and city in Connecticut, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”
 

Daily Bulletin 

For those of you interested in following along with this session’s committee meetings, hearings, etc. you can check in with the CGA’s Daily Bulletin online.

The link to the Bulletin remains the same throughout session. During this virtual session, knowing where to find the Bulletin is more important than ever as it is where the public will find hearing registration links, phone numbers to register and what date and time registration closes. 

Click here for the link to the bulletin.