Roland Lemar

Today, President Obama announced new executive actions to reduce gun violence and make our communities safer. I stand with the President’s balanced approach of increasing mental health care access and working to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of dangerous people. Although the NRA may say differently, most Americans agree that you should be required to undergo a criminal background check before purchasing a firearm at a store, gun show, or on the internet.

The United States is the only developed nation in the world to possess this level of gun violence and the response in congress has been to do nothing. Our response cannot be to maintain the status quo. Not while we watch so many of our communities and too many of our young people succumb to gun violence.

I am proud that Connecticut recently passed some of the most progressive gun safety laws in the country, but most of our nation lags far behind and the impact of loose gun laws in many states leads directly to the presence of illegal guns here in Connecticut.

The steps outlined by President Obama are commonsense measures that will help protect our communities. It is my hope that they are fully, quickly, and effectively implemented as our nation can no longer stand by and watch as senseless and preventable violence occurs. They are bold steps that I'm sure will be challenged by the NRA's well-heeled lawyers, lobbyists and Congressmen, but President Obama's executive actions will make our families and our communities safer.