Community Corner

Melissa Ziobron Votes Against Connecticut Gun Control Bill

Freshman legislator Melissa Ziobron was one of 44 state representatives to vote against the broad gun control bill that was approved in the Connecticut state House in the wee hours of the morning today.

The House approved the measure 105 to 44 at nearly 2:30 a.m. The state Senate approved it Tuesday in the early evening on a vote of 26-10.

Ziobron, a Republican from East Haddam who serves the 34th Assembly District, told her fellow lawmakers that she could not support the gun control bill for several reasons, including it’s inability, in her belief, to stop violent crime.

“It won’t stop evil people from doing evil things or criminals from committing crimes,” she said.“There are many sections of this bill that I could support, but the overreaching issues that infringe on our second amendment, for example: the additional and unprecedented steps and certificates for lawful gun owners, the felony components regarding the lack of unlawful registration, the addition of an ammunition certificate-even when they have a hunting license, the expansion of guns that are now banned in Connecticut. Other items in the bill I find troubling,” she added.

The full text of her speech is available on her blog.

State Sen. Art Linares, the Republican who serves the 33rd District, which includes East Hampton and Portland, was among the 10 senators who also voted against the measure.


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