Tell Your Representatives

How to be heard    |    What you can say    |    Who to contact

If you do not urge your representatives in the state legislature to improve Connecticut’s gun laws, who will? Here’s how to get in touch:

  1. Send your legislators an e-mail.
    Only have a minute? Send your legislators a personalized e-mail with our easy-to-use online system (opens in a new window), which identifies and addresses your representatives automatically when you input your address. You can write your own message or use the form letter we have prepared. When you’re done, use the prompt to invite a friend to do the same. Click here to e-mail your legislators now.
  2. Call your legislators.
    This is the most personal and effective way to communicate your experience and wishes with the people who represent you. {See: How do I contact my state legislators?} An easy way to reach your legislators is to input your address here to find out the names of your representatives, then call each legislator’s party caucus; he or she should be able to connect you. Numbers for each house and party are listed below. {Broaden your reach.}

      1. CT House Democrats: (860) 240-8500
      2. CT House Republicans: (860) 240-8700
      3. CT Senate Democrats: (860) 240-8600
      4. CT Senate Republicans: (860) 240-8800

     

  3. Write a Letter.
    Your representatives need to know that your passion for safety is stronger than the opposition’s passion for easy access to guns. In the words of one state representative: “I have been receiving many emails from gun advocates and almost none from the other side [...] If legislators respond to the people speaking to them… guess who they will be responding to?” Write a letter today, either from scratch or using our seven recommendations to the legislature as a starting point. {See: How do I contact my state legislators?}

    1. Note: When writing to your legislators, remember to include your name, home address, and phone number. Legislators will reply to you more quickly if you can be verified as a constituent. {Broaden your reach.}

 

Our Recommendations

If you are writing a letter, you may want to base it around our seven recommendations to the Connecticut legislature. Below is the standard format used in our e-mail to legislators.

“Please vote NOW to approve nothing less than the Governor’s common sense gun safety proposals, including:

  1. A ban on military style assault weapons that are listed by model name or, if not listed, are semi‐automatic weapons capable of accepting detachable magazines and have any military features. Individuals currently in possession of banned weapons will be required to register them by October 1, 2013. Future sales and purchases will be outlawed. Exemptions are proposed for law enforcement officers, corrections officials, and military and naval personnel discharging their official duties;
  2. A ban on large capacity magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds. Individuals in possession of magazines with a capacity greater than ten roundsshould have until October 1, 2013 to sell out of state, turn over to law enforcement, or permanently modify to no longer be capable of holding more than ten rounds;
  3. Expanding safe storage laws that now only call for strict liability if owners are negligent in prohibiting access to firearms by minors under 16. Existing statute should be amended to encompass all individuals ineligible to own a firearm;
  4. Requiring universal background checks on all sales and transfers including private sales.

 

Additionally, please pass legislation that:

  • Requires registration of all handguns with annual renewal, including updated background check; stipulation that all handguns are still in the possession of original purchaser or transferee; explanation for any handgun not being in their possession. Require safety inspection every three years. Fee on initial registration and renewal to mitigate expense;
  • Requires a permit to purchase and carry all guns, including long guns, and to purchase ammunition.
  • Limits handgun sales to one gun/month.”

 

How do I contact my state legislators?

Project Vote Smart has developed an easy, 4-step system to find, learn about, and contact your state legislators.

      1. To start, visit www.votesmart.org.
      2. Next, enter your 9-digit zip code (e.g., 06488-1111) in the box labeled “Find Your Elected Officials” on the right.
      3. In the next window, choose “State Legislative” from the list of options that appear.
      4. Finally, click on each candidate you want to contact; you can find their contact information — including e-mail address, district address (mail can be addressed here), and phone number — on the right-hand side of the page. (You may have to scroll down a little.)

 

Broaden your reach.

If you print a letter to mail to your representatives or pick up the phone to call them, please consider taking an extra few minutes to reach out to the following legislators:

    • Joint Committee on Judiciary
      Room 2500, Legislative Office Building
      Hartford, CT 06106
      (Phone: 860-240-0530)
    • Rep. Craig Miner, Gun Violence Working Group Co-Chair
      Craig Miner
      House Republican Office
      L.O.B. Room 4200
      Hartford, CT 06106
      (Phone: 800-842-1423)
    • Sen. Martin Looney, Gun Violence Working Group Co-Chair
      Legislative Office Building
      Room 3300
      Hartford, CT 06106-1591
      (Phone: 860-240-0375)