State task force on gun violence holds first meeting - FOX Carolina 21

Members of the state bipartisan task force on gun violence held their first ceremonial meeting Friday afternoon.

The Gun Violence and Children's Safety task force will review current laws and make proposals on a range of potential legislation to prevent gun violence, improve school security and ensure mental health services in the state.

"These three committees are going to have a lot of overlap," said state Sen. Beth Bye, D-Hartford.

The task force met for an organizational meeting with no hearings or testimony taking place at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

"Tolerance, civility, understanding, bipartisan cooperation, and I think if we can pledge to do all of these on this journey," said Minority Leader Larry Cafero. "I think we can arrive at the end of this journey with good results."

The task force will work together with Gov. Dannel Malloy's Sandy Hook Advisory Commission, which consists of experts and professionals on school safety, mental health and gun control.

The commission, which is being led by Chairman Scott Jackson, who is the mayor of Hamden, also will be bringing Malloy recommendations on those same three categories by mid-March in time for the regular session.

The commission and task force were formed after Adam Lanza shot and killed his mother at their home, then went to Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed 26 children and adults on Dec. 14.

The task force announced its upcoming hearing schedule following the meeting.

• Public hearing focusing on school safety on Jan. 25 at 9:30 a.m. at room 2C at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
• Public hearing focusing on gun safety on Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. at room 2C at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
• Public hearing focusing on mental health issues on Jan. 29 at 10 a.m. at room 2C at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
  
• Public hearing (topic is unknown at this time) on Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. at Newtown High School.

The hearings will give the public the chance to give the task force their opinions before the members make their recommendations.

"We're really gonna listen to the public," Cafero said.

The task force is also setting up a website for people, who cannot attend the hearings, to add their input.

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