Lavielle Denied Gun Safety Endorsement

In case you missed it, here's another reason we should elect Keith Rodgerson to the General Assembly in November.

CT Voters for Gun Safety, a statewide independent organization that supports strong Connecticut gun laws, has decided not to endorse State Representative Gail Lavielle for the November 4th General Assembly election.

“The gun safety coalition made a deliberate decision not to endorse Ms. Lavielle - and for good reason. You cannot spend years supporting gun interests and expect it to go unnoticed. Ms. Lavielle’s advocacy on behalf of the nation’s largest assault weapons seller and engagement with the Stand your Ground lobby and Koch-funded entities like ALEC has clearly had an impact on their decision, not to mention her pro-gun rating by the NRA two years ago. It’s time for a change,” said Wilton Democratic Town Chair Thomas Dec.

Ms. Lavielle’s defends the right to own high capacity magazines and called the landmark Sandy Hook guns laws “not a solution,”  She had earlier criticized the 2011 community push against high capacity magazines which earned her a “pro gun” rating by the NRA in 2012.          

Her opponent, neighborhood developer Keith Rodgerson of Wilton, applauded the decision to withhold an endorsement.  “As a lifelong Connecticut resident, father of a young child, and professional who has worked in neighborhoods marked by gun violence, I worry everyday about the impact that assault weapons continue to have on our society.  I will be a champion in the state legislature for responsible gun control.”

 

CT Voters for Gun Safety was joined in making its endorsements by a coalition of state groups including the CT Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, The Enough Campaign, The Greenwich Council Against Gun Violence, March For Change, Newtown Action Alliance, The Northwest Corner Committee for Gun Violence Prevention, and Women on Watch.

Endorsement decisions included consideration of prior voting records; responses to a candidate questionnaire; statements made to the press; comments at public hearings; comments and responses to ideas presented at private meetings; and actions and comments in prior and current positions held.