HARTFORD -- While gun control efforts met stiff opposition in Washington on Tuesday, a key committee of the state General Assembly unanimously approved requiring criminal background checks prior to all gun sales in Connecticut.
The bill next heads to the state Senate, pending active negotiations among legislative leaders on a series of proposed responses to the December slaughter of 20 first-graders and six adults in Newtown.
"It's more or less the minimum that we should be doing in response to the Newtown tragedy," said Rep. Steven T. Mikutel, D-Griswold, a committee member. "I'm a strong advocate for sportsmen, but I don't think one can really argue against criminal background checks for the purchase of guns."
The new law would cover private sales and transactions involving rifles that are not now subject to criminal background checks.
Legislative leaders on Wednesday will continue closed-door discussions on the possible expansion of the state's ban on assault weapons to include semi-automatic rifles similar to the Bushmaster used in Newtown; a limit on the number of bullets in a gun magazine; as well as universal background checks.
more at:
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Gun-control-efforts-rise-in-Conn-4368442.php