State Sen. John McKinney said that while his vote today may be “emotional” that’s not a reason to recuse himself from the historic vote on gun control legislation before the legislature today.
“Yes, emotions are part of this, but so is logic and reason,” he said inside the state Senate chambers shortly before the chamber convened. “It’s also about public policy and making us safer.”
McKinney said he’s received thousands of emails and text messages in recent days from his constituents about today’s vote, noting that most were in support of stronger gun controls.
“To me this is not a policital issue because I represent Newtown and the impact it had on the world,” he said. “This is something we have to do. I hope what we do today provides a small amount of comfort to Sandy Hook, not that it will relieve the pain. The bill itself will make Connecticut a safer place.”
Matt Bogtali of Danbury, one of the hundreds of gun rights supporters who descended on the capitol Wednesday, said he McKinney shhould recuse himself from the vote becuase of his comments that it will be “emotional.”
“I know he has a responsibility to Newtown but he also has a responsibility to all the citizens of Connecticut,” he said.
Bogtali added that he joined the NRA shortly after the Sandy Hook massacre.
“I knew where the national conversation was going and I wanted to align myself with the most powerful gun rights group in the country,” he said. “The lawmakers should be going after the mental health system instead of taking the easy way out.”