State’s largest gun owners group endorses Foley for governor

Timothy Coley, left,  of Bristol Conn. and Josephy Boniface of East Granby Conn. talk during a gun rights rally at the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford Conn. on Saturday April 20, 2013.  The Connecticut Citizens Defense League , the National Rifle Association and Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen are joining forces to challenge the new gun control legislation recently passed by the Connecticut General Assembly after the Newtown school shooting. Among other things, the law expands Connecticut's assault weapons ban and bans large capacity ammunition magazines. (AP Photo/Journal Inquirer, Jared Ramsdell)

Timothy Coley, left, of Bristol Conn. and Josephy Boniface of East Granby Conn. talk during a gun rights rally at the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford Conn. on Saturday April 20, 2013. The Connecticut Citizens Defense League , the National Rifle Association and Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen are joining forces to challenge the new gun control legislation recently passed by the Connecticut General Assembly after the Newtown school shooting. Among other things, the law expands Connecticut’s assault weapons ban and bans large capacity ammunition magazines. (AP Photo/Journal Inquirer, Jared Ramsdell)

For better or worse, Republican Tom Foley’s gubernatorial prospects are now intertwined with the largest gun owner group in the state, which is leading the charge against sweeping firearms restrictions passed in response to the Newtown massacre.

The 15,000-member Connecticut Citizens Defense League endorsed Foley and running mate Heather Bond Somers Friday morning on its blog, casting incumbent Gov. Dannel P. Malloy as a gun-grabber.

“We strongly believe that the team of Tom Foley and Heather Somers will take Connecticut in a new direction that is so desperately needed,” the group announced. “Governor Dannel Malloy has a proven track record of supporting anti-rights legislation and has vilified and ostracized Connecticut gun owners throughout his term. It is time for him to be to be replaced.”

Foley readily accepted the endorsement of CCDL in a statement issued by his campaign spokesman, Chris Cooper.

“We welcome the support of the CCDL and any group seeking change in Connecticut,” Cooper said. “CCDL members have been bullied by Governor Malloy as have teachers, state workers and parents. They are unhappy with where Connecticut is, as are so many people across the state under Governor Malloy’s failed policies.  The endorsement by CCDL means they are confident that Tom Foley and his plan will take Connecticut in a better direction.”

Foley’s opponents characterized the timing of the endorsement — a slow news cycle day going into the Labor Day weekend — as curious.

“When it comes to repealing Connecticut’s smart, strict gun control law, Tom Foley would stand with the CCDL to repeal it,” Mark Bergman, a senior campaign adviser for Malloy, said in a statement. “Just this week, Mr. Foley said he would sign a repeal of the law and even said he wouldn’t enforce parts of the law to keep dangerous weapons out of Connecticut’s communities. It’s clear that Tom Foley and the CCDL would stand together to take us backward on our smart gun law.”

Accused of hedging on the volatile issue of guns, Foley earned CCDL’s endorsement over petitioning candidate Joe Visconti, who has carried a Beretta .380 in a holster on the campaign trail.

Foley contributed $1,000 to CCDL for a ticket to a July 20 fundraising dinner in Fairfield with former U.N. ambassador John Bolton. All of the proceeds from the event went toward the group’s litigation fund, which is dedicated to overturning the restrictions that were signed into law by Malloy in 2013 with overwhelming support from the General Assembly.

Signed into law last year by Malloy with overwhelming support in the Legislature, Connecticut’s gun-legislation package expanded the definition of illegal assault weapons, banned gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition and mandated universal background checks for firearms and ammunition.

Neil Vigdor