Members of the National Rifle Association and gun rights supporters descended early on the State Capitol Thursday for the historic vote on gun control legislation negotiated in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook massacre.
A few supporters of stricter gun controls, however, began to filter into the building by 10 a.m., including former Danbury mayoral candidate Lynn Taborsak, who said she she is very concerned that the posession of high capacity magazines isn’t going far enough.
“I’m concerned that possession of magazines isn’t included in the ban,” she said. “That’s what the families of Newtown wanted. It’s so obvious that the number of fatalities would have been limited if the shooter didn’t have high capacity magazines.”
Elaine Robinson of New Milford, who was wearing a green Sandy Hook sweatshirt while surrounded by NRA supporters, said she’s particpated in a number of marches and demonstrations in recent months and she wants to see the final result.
“This is historic,” she said, “but more needs to be done.”
NRA member Warren Stevens said all the proposed gun control laws have done is to anger and unite supporters of gun rights in the state.
“I am disgusted with our state lawmakers,” he said. “They took an oath to uphold the constitution.”
He added that about 40 percent of the elecorate in the state are gun owners.
“Lawmakers afraid of our guns and clips should be more afraid of our vote,” Stevens said.
In an interesting twist, while most NRA supporters said the state has to work on its mental health system instead of restricting law abiding gun owners, today is Autism awareness day at the capitol.