Current CT Gun Deaths Data

Thru November 2014. Data confirmed with CT Office of Chief Medical Examiner

In the past few years, gun deaths in Connecticut have been in decline. In 2012, there were 115 homicides; in 2013, the year our landmark legislation passed, there were 71, and so far this year, through November, there have been 50. Smart gun laws combined with good community policing programs such as Project Longevity have resulted in significant decline in gun homicides. Project Longevity in Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven has reduced gun homicides in those three cities every year: 75 in 2011, 56 in 2012, 49 in 2013, and 30 so far in 2014.

Connecticut has the second strongest gun laws in the nation, and the sixth lowest rate of gun deaths. This data demonstrates that smart gun laws work. In the coming year, CAGV hopes to help cut the rate of gun deaths more through support to Project Longevity, tightening safe storage requirements, and supporting domestic violence proposals to require law enforcement to remove guns from the subjects of restraining orders as soon as they are filed.

Our data is confirmed monthly with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Connecticut.

For more detailed information click here.

Picture

Myron May identified as the FL State University Shooter

by Emily N. Fish for CT Against Gun Violence                                     

 

Tallahassee, FL – Three Florida State University (FSU) students were shot and wounded early Thursday morning by a gunman identified as Myron May, an attorney and graduate of FSU who later attended Texas Tech University’s law school. Of the three wounded, two were immediately taken to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare hospital, and the AP reported that one is in critical condition and the other is stable. The third wounded student was grazed by a bullet, and was treated and released at the scene.

May produced a handgun and opened fire in Strozier Library, where approximately 300 students were studying for finals, at about 12:30 am. Police Officers found May on an access ramp outside the library near the entrance, and after he refused to drop his weapon and fired a shot at the officers, they returned fire, killing May.

May had been staying with family friend Abigail Taunton in nearby Wewahitchka, FL, in a guest house on her property. Taunton told the Tallahassee Democrat that “he was a little down,” and that “he had some financial problems. Just going from a big law job to a smaller law job.” But she added that “We thought he was doing better and feeling better about himself. We’re just in shock like everybody else. This is just crazy.”

Keith Jones, a Kansas Teacher, was May’s roommate and friend throughout their college years. Jones told the Tallahassee Democrat that although there weren’t any signs that May would do something like this, “There is more to his mental health (status) that may have caused some of this. He was taking medications which caused paranoia. He used to see a therapist on a regular basis. He thought people were spying on him.”

John Thrasher, the President of FSU, is only in his 9th day in office. Previously, as a state senator, Thrasher helped block an NRA-sponsored bill that would allow open carrying of weapons on school campuses, preschool through university.

Malloy

New Poll in Governor’s Race from Public Policy Polling

New poll has Malloy out to surprising lead in governor’s race

by Ken Borsuk for Greenwich Post

Gov. Tom Foley? Not so fast, according to a new poll that puts incumbent Gov. Dannel Malloy in the lead and represents a rather large break from previous measures of the upcoming gubernatorial race.

Under a new poll released Monday by Public Policy Polling (PPP), Mr. Malloy has an eight percentage point lead over his Republican challenger Mr. Foley in the upcoming election, a rematch of the 2010 election that Mr. Malloy won by fewer than 10,000 votes. According to PPP, Mr. Malloy is polling at 43% with Mr. Foley coming in at 35% and independent Joe Visconti, who is running to Mr. Foley’s right, coming in at 9%. Were Mr. Visconti not in the race, Mr. Malloy’s lead would shrink to six points.

To read the full article click here.