Connecticut Against Gun Violence (CAGV)

There were 76 homicides by firearms in Connecticut in 2007. Here is a list of victims. Our sympathy goes out to all their loved ones. Atryal Womack, 18........Lumnije Dermaku, 31........Bashkim Emini, 36........Mehrdad Moussavian, 37........William Donald, 36........Leroy Brown, 32........Deanna Pugh, 45........Janice Brown, 49........Kenneth Brown, 53........Martha Brown, 80........Marzena Ladziejewska, 29........Urszula Winiarski, 50........Sergio Jaquez, 20........Javed Akhtar, 32........Edgar Sanchez Jr, 22........Joshua McClelland, 18........Melvin Burke, 42........Juan Marcano, 24........Corey Forrest, 22........Julius Sockwell, 19........Terrence Driffin, 23........Ricardo Beamon, 28........Julian Ellis, 17........Aaron Talley, 33........Tyler Coward, 18........Angel Rovira, 30........Lester Holmes, 26........Asher Glace, 21........Marc Morgan, 18........Maria Garzon Arenas, 40........Delano Gray, 22........Filiberto Meza Morales, 36........Vernell Marshall, 23........Eric Moore, 37........Hector Diaz, 26........Xion Davidson, 16........Kent McLaurin, 19........Tony Simons, 37........Hector Salvania, 33........Ralph Colon, 56........Maurice Allen, 21........Jennifer Magnano, 42........Jepther White, 24........Kirk Taylor, 48........Edgardo Difre, 19........Keron Robinson, 23........Garrett Smith, 38........Sherwin Venable, 41........Miguel Vazquez, 50........Rontiesha Carroll, 20........Jared Silva, 46........Vincent Jones, 24........Jose A. Rivera, 19........Jorge Rivera, 20........Samuel L. Alexander, 59........Jessica Rodriguez, 21........Thomas Jefferson, 40........Gerard Chapdelaine, 39........Lorna Coley, 47........Efrain Rodriguez, 30........Jonathan Arroyo, 25........Steven Williams, 37........Eric Couvertier, 24........Luis Fernandez, 38........Yaritzi Myers, 27........Gregory L. Rowell, 22........Jeremiah Johnson, 32........Trevon Mauldin, 22........Moh'd Al-Sadouni, 26........Oshane Green, 18........Larry Paulk, 51........Thomas Szadkowski, 41 (sources: various news articles and press releases, 1/1/07 - 1/1/08).

The Terror Gap

The Terror Gap refers to a federal loophole that allows people on the FBI's Terrorist Watchlist to legally buy guns.

Being in the FBI's database of those "known or reasonably suspected of being involved in terrorist activity" is not one of the reasons for being denied a gun purchase. Legislation has been proposed in Congress that would close this loophole.
(Read More).

Open Carry

There are days when you read the newspaper or watch the news and it seems as if our country is back in the Wild West. Suddenly, it seems that some people are finding it necessary to bring their guns with them anywhere and everywhere, and to show everyone that they're "carrying."

The "open carry" movement is growing at a time when the federal courts have been looking more favorably on the rights of gun owners than on the authority of governments to restrict gun ownership. In the past two years, open carry has become part of the national gun discussion. The Starbucks coffee chain put the issue before a broad audience earlier this year when it decided to allow obviously armed customers into its stores in states that permit open carry. (Read More)

The Gun Show Loophole

Seven states, including Connecticut, require background checks no matter where a gun is purchased. But in most states, anyone can walk into a gun show and buy guns - like AK-47s - from unlicensed sellers without a Brady criminal background check.

Representatives Mike Castle (R-DE) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) have introduced a bill, H.R. 2324, to close this gun show loophole.
(Read More).

The Brady Campaign Scorecard gives Connecticut High Marks

The Brady Campaign has released its 2009 state scorecards for all 50 states. Connecticut earned 53 points out of a total of 100 and has the nation's fourth strongest gun laws.

According to the Brady Organization, Connecticut has strong gun laws that help combat the illegal gun market, prevent the sale of most guns without background checks and reduce risks to children.. In addition, Connecticut is one of only 7 states that have closed the gun show loophole.

Four out of every five states score below 25 points out of 100. The state with the strongest gun laws is California with 79 points, followed by New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland and New York.

To See the complete ranking of all 50 states: Brady Campaign Scorecard

Legislature Passes SB358

The CT General Assembly passed a new gun safety bill in this session intended to prevent the kind of tragedy whereby an 8-year-old boy from Ashford CT died after accidentally shooting himself while firing an Uzi submachine gun under adult supervision at a Massachusetts gun fair.

The bill, SB 358, An Act Prohibiting the Transfer of Machine Gun to Minors, prohibits any transfer of a machine gun to children under 16 years of age, even temporarily, such as under supervision at a firing range. Violation caries a $1,000 fine, imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both. The House vote was unanimous.

The bill becomes law on October 1, 2009.

VPC tracks killings by Concealed Handgun Permit Holders.

A new on-line resource from Washington DC based Violence Policy Center tallies news reports of killings by concealed handgun permit holders.

The web site, http://www.vpc.org/ccwkillers.htm CCW Killers, is updated monthly to include new fatal shootings and changes in the legal status of concealed handgun permit holders facing criminal charges.


Click here to learn about the Red Flag campaign, sponsored by the CAGV Education Fund. Click here to view Gun Facts.


	Help us in our effort to reduce gun violence in Connecticut.


	Support Gun Safety Legislation in Connecticut, contact your legislators today via our Legislative Action Center.

CAGV alerts: Send us your e-mail address and we'll alert you to important legislative issues!

Because we lobby for sensible gun laws, contributions to CAGV are not tax deductible for federal
income purposes. If you wish to make a tax-deductible gift, please visit the CAGV Education Fund web site.