Demanding Action on Gun Violence

May 27, 2022

In almost half a year, more than 200 mass shootings have occurred in the United States. It is unthinkable that our country and communities continue to mourn the loss of innocent lives - children, elderly, worshippers, shoppers at supermarkets and malls - to senseless mass shootings.

My heart goes out to the Uvalde, Texas community, families, and friends, as they mourn the tragic loss of 19 precious children and 2 teachers who were heartlessly taken by gun violence. Our thoughts and prayers alone are not enough to prevent these tragedies. We need Congress to act.

While each mass shooting may be different, there is one thread that binds all of them together - the ease with which individuals can purchase and obtain weapons and ammunition solely meant for war as early as 18 years of age. 

Following the Sandy Hook tragedy in 2012, we took steps here in Connecticut to ensure it never happened again. In recent years we implemented more gun safety reforms to reduce mass shootings (in addition to accidents and suicides in which guns are involved). In 2013, I proudly supported legislation making critical changes to Connecticut's gun laws, including banning the sale of AR-15s and other military-style weapons, mandating background checks for all gun purchases, and banning large capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. The law also prohibited the sale of ammunition and ammunition magazines to anyone under the age of 18. 

As House Chair of the Public Health Committee at the time, I championed the inclusion of mental health first aid training for school staff and faculty and creation of a regional behavioral health consultation and care coordination program for pediatricians to easily access a consultation team comprised of a child psychiatrist, social worker, and care coordinator. The law also established a grant for school districts to improve security infrastructure and development of statewide school security standards.  

We've continued to build upon these measures. In 2019 our state restricted access to "ghost guns," passed Ethan's Law to ensure the safe storage of firearms in homes with children under 18 years old, and prevented firearms owners from leaving weapons unattended in motor vehicles. 

In 2021 we expanded upon Connecticut's Red Flag law to give greater latitude to restrict access to firearms for individuals who pose as a danger to themselves and others. 

This session, we passed critical investments in children's mental health care, supports for families, and education, because we know that access to these services is key in helping to prevent gun violence. We passed historic legislation (HB 5001SB 1SB 2) to address the immediate and long-term mental health needs of our children. We also approved a state budget plan that makes historic investments in kids' mental health securing allocations for all these programs. The budget will:

  • Assist local schools in expanded mental health staff and access to care
  • Provide mental health training to parents, students, and pediatricians
  • Help school-based health centers develop new mental health programming
  • Create new walk-ins for mental health emergencies
  • Establish a new position at the Healthcare Advocate to help families navigate care for children and adolescents
  • Expand 24/7 emergency mental health response
  • Establish state oversight and coordination of state response to kids' mental health needs
  • Expand mentorship opportunities

These measures work, and the U.S. House of Representatives has passed many of these measures but we must demand the Senate to act. We need the collective will to implement national policies – like red flag laws and expanding background checks – to protect lives and make sure these tragedies never happen again. Their consistent choice not to act makes us all less safe.

Please join me by calling upon our lawmakers in Washington to demand bolder gun laws NOW - which the vast majority of Americans support.

Contact the CT Delegation

As your state representative, I commit to keep actively participating in the conversations to stop gun violence in our communities. Let's work together to make those solutions a reality.