Members of a grassroots gun safety group joined State Senator Alex Bergstein (D-Greenwich) at the legislative office building on Tuesday in support of a proposed new law to subject ‘ghost guns’ to the same legal requirements as other firearms.
In attendance were two members of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America – Robin Druckman of Stamford and Emily Bierman of Greenwich who was accompanied by her year-old daughter Elsie.
Other members of the Senate Democratic Caucus were also in attendance to announce a “Just Connecticut” package of proposed bills focused on criminal justice reforms, expanded voting rights and gun safety.
One of the proposed bills, Senate Bill 655, titled “An Act Prohibiting Ghost Guns,” would close a loophole in existing state law by requiring any firearm for sale in the state be marked with a serial number. Owners of such guns would also need a permit and a background check to acquire one.
“In case anyone has any doubt about what a ghost gun is, Google it. The very first site that comes up, ghostguns.com specializes in selling unregistered weapons that are ‘combat-tested’ and ‘mission ready.’ Any reasonable person should be shaking their head and asking, who’s buying untraceable, unregistered ‘mission-ready’ guns, and why? What is their ‘mission’?” said Sen. Bergstein, who is vice-chair of the Judiciary Committee where this bill will be heard.
“If these questions cause deep concern for you as they do for me and my fellow Democrats, we need to do something about it,” she continued. “Whether we own guns or not, whether we have children or not, whether we are Democrats or Republicans or subscribe to any political identity, combat weapons in the hands of civilians who are not responsible gun owners is a major threat to our public safety – which is why we’re taking action.”
Sen. Bergstein acknowledged the presence at Tuesday’s event of Moms Demand Action and Connecticut Against Gun Violence, two “formidable grassroots activists groups working for common sense gun safety reforms at both the state and federal levels.”
“Through their consistent and dedicated advocacy, these activists are raising awareness about gun safety in Connecticut and across America, changing hearts and minds, and reminding people that gun safety is not just some abstract issue, but a real issue that affects our children and our future.