Action Needed On Gun Violence

Overwhelming support for CCM Task Force Recommendations

Since we first released a series of recommendations on gun violence in February, there have been dozens of mass shootings all over the nation, including one in Hartford. The need to end this senseless violence has never been more urgent – which is why CCM supported an amendment included in House Bill 6667.

Adopted from our Special Task Force on Reducing Gun Violence, CCM with CCM President and Mayor Tom Dunn, stood alongside big city mayors, local advocacy groups and Governor Ned Lamont to urge support for common sense initiatives to prevent repeat dangerous offenders from getting out on bail backed by data at a press conference in February.

Our language in HB 6667 could be boiled down to these five main points:

1. Defines a “serious firearm offense” that results in increased accountability when committed by an individual with a serious criminal history;

2. Increases accountability for individuals who commit serious firearm offenses while out on bail, probation or parole for certain prior offenses;

3. Imposes enhanced penalties for the crime of criminal possession of a firearm;

4. Enhances law enforcement ability to petition for the timely remand of individuals who pose a threat to public safety; and

5. Streamlines the adjudication process for seri- ous firearm offenses designating dedicated gun dockets in particular judicial districts and allow for expedited hearings for particular firearm offenses.

Widely reported in the press, the recommendations of the task force were shared – and supported by editorial boards.

The Hearst Connecticut Editorial Board noted:

“The mayors gave compelling examples. In Waterbury 70% of the people charged in shootings last year were awaiting trial on other charges or on probation, and 63% already had convictions for violent felonies or gun crimes. Of those charged in shootings in Hartford last year, 39% were awaiting trial on other charges, 14% were on probation, and 5% on parole. New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker and Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim concurred that a few chronic offenders commit a disproportionate number of gun crimes in their cities.”

CCM added to this with a video campaign featuring some of the local advocacy groups paired with quotes from the media showing the overwhelming support for our language. The short campaign racked up over 200,000 views in just one week on our YouTube page.

Eventually, the CCM Special Task Force recommendations were combined with Governor Lamont’s larger gun violence package, which has not seen the universal support that our specific proposals have seen. As we noted in February, that is partly because these are tough issues to tackle and no one idea is going to be the solution to gun violence. What matters here is the action.