Steven Stafstrom

Like many parents this morning, I sent my kids off to school with a hug that was a little tighter and a little longer than the day before. Like so many parents around our communities, I can't stop thinking about the parents who waited late into the night for the results of a DNA test to find out if their child was among the victims.

The tragedy that happened at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and every one that's happened in the past two decades is the result of our federal leaders' inaction. This is the America we're choosing to live in, choosing to let our children grow up in. While our state has led on passing reasonable gun safety measures, Congress' consistent choice not to act makes us all less safe.

Over my 8 years in office, I have seen a noticeable shift in attitudes on gun safety legislation. In 2018, state lawmakers passed a ban on bump stocks with strong bipartisan support. In 2019, I championed Ethan's Law to ensure the safe storage of firearms in a home with children under 18, which also received support from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

However, when I authored and led the passage of legislation in 2021 to close loopholes in our state's Red Flag law, which was developed to help prevent gun violence, and provide greater latitude to order the temporary removal of firearms from anyone who may pose as a danger to themselves or others, only 2 Republican lawmakers voted in support of the measure. This year when I proposed legislation to ban the bulk purchase of firearms in the face of a continued explosion of gun sales over the last several years and further regulate assault weapons and ghost guns, Republicans threatened to filibuster and use parliamentary tactics to prevent legislation from going to the floor for a vote.

Our state and our country need bold, decisive action to protect our communities from gun violence. There are many solutions, and thoughts and prayers alone are not among them. Today, I remain just as committed to enacting the most comprehensive, stringent gun control legislation in Connecticut as I did when I first ran for office in 2014.