In an unusual letter to House Republicans, House Democrats and Senate Republicans, Senate Democratic leaders Marty Looney and Don Williams today asked their colleagues to come out and debate gun control legislation. They recalled that in mid-January when a 52-member task force was announced, a vote on legislation was targeted for the end of February. “The deadline is here but unfortunately Connecticut is still awaiting results,” Looney and Williams wrote. They called for the leaders to get together Tuesday at 3 o’clock to begin negotiations on recommendations from the three subcommittees. The guns subcommittee will finalize their proposals during a 12:30 p.m. meeting Tuesday. “We should vote on a bill no later than Wednesday, March 13,” Looney and Williams wrote to J. Brenda Sharkey, speaker of the House, House Majority Leader Joe Aresimowicz, Senate Minority Leader John McKinney and House Minority Leader Larry Cafero.
“Other states – New York, Colorado and Maryland – have taken action since the Newtown tragedy,” they wrote. “In Connecticut, we must not bow to pressure from those who would delay action as a way of blocking common sense reforms. Please accept our invitation to meet on Tuesday to move forward with the strong and comprehensive measures to protect our children and our communities.”