Connecticut Against Gun Violence (CAGV)

There were 76 homicides by firearms in Connecticut in 2007. Here is a list of victims. Our sympathy goes out to all their loved ones. Atryal Womack, 18........Lumnije Dermaku, 31........Bashkim Emini, 36........Mehrdad Moussavian, 37........William Donald, 36........Leroy Brown, 32........Deanna Pugh, 45........Janice Brown, 49........Kenneth Brown, 53........Martha Brown, 80........Marzena Ladziejewska, 29........Urszula Winiarski, 50........Sergio Jaquez, 20........Javed Akhtar, 32........Edgar Sanchez Jr, 22........Joshua McClelland, 18........Melvin Burke, 42........Juan Marcano, 24........Corey Forrest, 22........Julius Sockwell, 19........Terrence Driffin, 23........Ricardo Beamon, 28........Julian Ellis, 17........Aaron Talley, 33........Tyler Coward, 18........Angel Rovira, 30........Lester Holmes, 26........Asher Glace, 21........Marc Morgan, 18........Maria Garzon Arenas, 40........Delano Gray, 22........Filiberto Meza Morales, 36........Vernell Marshall, 23........Eric Moore, 37........Hector Diaz, 26........Xion Davidson, 16........Kent McLaurin, 19........Tony Simons, 37........Hector Salvania, 33........Ralph Colon, 56........Maurice Allen, 21........Jennifer Magnano, 42........Jepther White, 24........Kirk Taylor, 48........Edgardo Difre, 19........Keron Robinson, 23........Garrett Smith, 38........Sherwin Venable, 41........Miguel Vazquez, 50........Rontiesha Carroll, 20........Jared Silva, 46........Vincent Jones, 24........Jose A. Rivera, 19........Jorge Rivera, 20........Samuel L. Alexander, 59........Jessica Rodriguez, 21........Thomas Jefferson, 40........Gerard Chapdelaine, 39........Lorna Coley, 47........Efrain Rodriguez, 30........Jonathan Arroyo, 25........Steven Williams, 37........Eric Couvertier, 24........Luis Fernandez, 38........Yaritzi Myers, 27........Gregory L. Rowell, 22........Jeremiah Johnson, 32........Trevon Mauldin, 22........Moh'd Al-Sadouni, 26........Oshane Green, 18........Larry Paulk, 51........Thomas Szadkowski, 41 (sources: various news articles and press releases, 1/1/07 - 1/1/08).

Trayvon Martin and Stand Your Ground Article

Many in the country are outraged following the shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman in Sanford Florida this past February 26.

The tragedy has resurfaced some ugly old passions about racism, profiling, police insensitivity to crimes committed against African Americans and other minorities, and suspicions that maybe the black victim somehow brought the trouble upon himself.
(Read More)

CAGV Opposes Three Bills in Current CT Legislative Session

CT Against Gun Violence is opposing three bills voted favorably upon by the Public Safety and Security Committee in the current session of the CT Legislature. It is unclear whether these bills will be taken up for a floor vote. (Read more about bills here).

The 2011 Brady Campaign Scorecard:
Connecticut Ranks Fifth Among States Based on Strength of Gun Laws

California remains the state with the strongest gun laws. Following are New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut. Those states also have the lowest gun death rates in the nation.

At the other end of the spectrum are Arizona, Alaska, and Utah with the weakest gun laws.

"Guns don't fall from the sky into the hands of criminals," said Brady Acting President Dennis Henigan. "All too often, crime guns come from gun dealers in the states that stubbornly refuse to enact common sense, lifesaving gun laws. Every day, a river of illegal guns flows out of the states with weak gun laws, victimizing families in states that are doing their best to protect their residents. It is no accident that the states with the weakest gun laws are the exporters of death and injury. "

To See the complete ranking of all 50 states: Brady Campaign Scorecard (Excel Spreadsheet)

Rep. Courtney Seeks to Weaken CT Gun Safety.

Rep. Joe Courtney had signed on as a cosponsor of HR 822, a bill hat would override the laws of Connecticut and require us to accept concealed handgun permits from other states. Why in the world would we want to do that? Why would we want to allow people from other states who wouldn't qualify for a permit in CT to carry concealed guns in CT when our own residents can't do it without a CT permit? (Read More)

VPC tracks killings by Concealed Handgun Permit Holders.

A new on-line resource from Washington DC based Violence Policy Center tallies news reports of killings by concealed handgun permit holders.

The web site, http://www.vpc.org/ccwkillers.htm CCW Killers, is updated monthly to include new fatal shootings and changes in the legal status of concealed handgun permit holders facing criminal charges.


Click here to learn about the Red Flag campaign, sponsored by the CAGV Education Fund. Click here to view Gun Facts.


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	Support Gun Safety Legislation in Connecticut, contact your legislators today via our Legislative Action Center.

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Because we lobby for sensible gun laws, contributions to CAGV are not tax deductible for federal
income purposes. If you wish to make a tax-deductible gift, please visit the CAGV Education Fund web site.