The legislature sent its bipartisan response to the Sandy Hook tragedy to the governor’s desk Thursday morning, enacting strict gun-control legislation and closing the book on months of emotional debate , CT News Junkie reported Thursday.
The bill passed the Senate after more than six hours of debate with a 26 – 10 vote. It passed the House on a 105 – 44 vote after seven hours of debate.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said he would sign the legislation, which supporters say addresses the issues of gun violence, mental health, and school security even if it wouldn’t necessarily have prevented the second-worst shooting in the nation’s history.
The legislation expands the state’s assault weapon ban to include 100 more new firearms, creates a new a long gun eligibility certificate, broadens the mental health provisions that disqualify a person for a gun permit or handgun eligibility certificate, and requires gun owners to register their high-capacity magazines while immediately halting any future sales of them in the state.
In addition, it changes how private insurance companies handle mental health claims, and creates new standards for school security.
Click here to read the full report from CT News Junkie’s Hugh McQuaid and Christine Stuart.
