Submitted by Jonathan Perloe, Cos Cob
Recently, a Republican state senator asserted that “Easing gun laws in Connecticut…is never going to happen.”
If true, it’s only because voters in Connecticut continue to elect state legislators who have created a firewall against those in the CT General Assembly who put gun rights ahead of our public and personal safety.
Rep. Hector Arzeno, running for re-election in the 151st Assembly district representing parts of Greenwich, is one of those lawmakers. He’s endorsed by CT Against Gun Violence and is a Moms Demand Action “Gun Sense” candidate. Since being seated in 2020, Hector has been a vocal and visible champion for preventing gun death and injury in our state. He has consistently supported strong gun laws that keep firearms out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them and funding for anti-violence programs in high-crime areas.
According to the Giffords Law Center, Connecticut has the third strongest gun laws in the nation, and the sixth lowest rate of gun deaths, 51 percent lower than the national average. Strong gun laws save lives.
Just as recent events show that we can’t take women’s reproductive rights for granted, we can’t take Connecticut’s strong gun laws for granted. The threat goes beyond the extreme decisions coming from Supreme Court justices appointed by Donald Trump; it can only be prevented by electing state legislators who put your safety ahead of unfettered access to firearms.
There is a long history of Republican lawmakers introducing legislation to weaken Connecticut gun laws. Just last year, bills were introduced to implement “stand your ground laws,” allow guns to be carried in state parks, prohibit municipalities from regulating firearms, weaken our assault weapons ban, bypass Connecticut’s concealed carry permit requirements and weaken oversight of ammunition purchases.
As for Arzeno’s opponent, Tod Laudonia, we don’t know where he stands on regulations that prevent gun violence. He declined to share with CT Against Gun Violence where he stands on specific gun violence prevention measures and his website doesn’t disclose his positions on key issues.
While in the past, Republicans from Greenwich voted for legislation strengthening Connecticut gun laws; that hasn’t been the case lately. State Senator Ryan Fazio is endorsed by the CT Citizens Defense League, the gun rights group that has opposed every bill strengthening Connecticut gun laws since at least the Sandy Hook School shooting. During their single terms in office, Republicans Harry Arora (151st) and Kim Fiorello (149th) voted against the bill strengthening Connecticut’s extreme risk protection order (aka red flag law), which studies show prevent mass shootings and firearm suicide.
A vote to re-elect Hector Arzeno is a vote to keep Greenwich, and Connecticut, safe from gun violence.
Jonathan Perloe, Cos Cob
The author is communications director for CT Against Gun Violence. The views expressed here are his own, although CAGV has endorsed Hector Arzeno for the 151st State Assembly district.