Malloy & Bye Keynote Speakers at Gun Violence Prevention Convention Wesleyan Sept. 28th ($75)

On  Sept. 28 Wesleyan University will host a Gun Violence Prevention public forum with featured speaker Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. He is joined by Ct state Senator Beth Bye.

The Conference on Gun Violence Prevention will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on campus.The event is hosted by Connecticut Against Gun Violence, the Wesleyan Association of Christian Thinkers, Wesleyan’s Center for Community Partnerships and the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Psi Upsilon, Womanist House, Buddhist house, 200 Church residence hall and Wes Democrats.

Participants may attend sessions on “Past, Present and Future of Gun Violence Prevention in Connecticut,” “Guns 101: The Terminology and Technology,” The 2014 Elections: How YOU can Impact the Results,” “Beyond Mass Shootings: The Hidden Epidemic of Gun Homicide,” “Marching for Change: Building a Movement,” “Legislative Strategy: Making Your Voice Heard,” and “Maximum Impact: Effective Social Media Strategy.”

The conference is open to the public but a fee of $75 for attendees who are not students is required.
 
Sessions will include discussions on homicides with firearms, legislative strategy and social media strategy. Redding Police Chief Douglas Fuchs will speak on gun terminology.

More information, links pre register and pay the attendance fee as well as a full list of speakers is available here:
http://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2013/09/16/gunviolenceconference/ 

and here: http://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/files/2013/09/WES-CONFERENCE-ONLINE-DETAILS-AND-REGISTRATION.pdf

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Letter to the Editor:Today is a sad and dark day in CT

Yesterday, lawmakers in the Connecticut legislature voted in favor of stricter gun laws and limits on so called assault weapons in response the killing  of 20 children and 6 educators at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012. The bill also included measures, although limited, to address mental health issues and violence as well as violence prevention measures in schools.
The full bill can be read in its original form here:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1OYjxtLEgUwUWJiZENvRmVDX3c/edit?usp=sharing

What is your reaction? Send us a letter. 
Reactions from our friends on facebook published with permission from the authors taken from a special post requesting comments for publication:

Anthony Knapp, Middletown wrote: "Rushed through as expected"

David Greaves, Middletown wrote: "Disgrace to the families of gun violence. This bill has just as much teeth as a restraining order." 

Christine Carta, Middletown wrote:"Nearly every post I have read today is from an outraged citizen. I find it curious that so many folks are outraged, yet our elected officials claim to vote their constituents' views. Doesn't add up."

Anne Dubay Dauphinais, Middletown wrote: "Our individual rights are taken away by the mob. I would like to leave CT!!"

Craig Elkin, Middletown wrote" You can't close a barn door after the horses get out."

Angel Fernandez, Middletown wrote: " I feel raped especially as a Combat veteran. I am disgusted how the other politicians [who are) veterans] voted in favor. They should enforce what's in the books. Well Mall0y I hope all goes well in DC NOT!"

Joanne Faust, Middletown,  "My feelings are this, which I'm not looking to start a whole political debate; however I'm tired of gun enthusiasts using/hiding behind the 2nd amendment. When the amendment was written, the founding fathers had muskets - not semi-automatic, rapid fire, and mass ammo clips!!! The average citizen should not be able to purchase and possess those types of fire arms and clips!!"

Angel Fernandez, Middletown, wrote “There is no such thing as clips Joanne maybe magazines...”

Jim Salemi, Middletown, wrote  “So the second amendment only protects musket owners, Joanne? Really? The founding fathers were concerned about the people's ability to defend themselves and their country against tyranny--including domestic tyranny. So you think the people can use muskets to defend themselves against a government armed with modern "rapid fire" weapons? Really? Wow. How much do we spend on public education a year? And I don"t hide behind anything, including the second amendment.”

Enzo Faienza, Cromwell, ( also candidate for Mayor 2013 Cromwell) wrote: "Today is a sad day for our State, this is the beginning to the end. Today big government will infringe on our 2nd amendment rights. They will tell us this is it but it's only the beginning.The next phase will be to take our guns away completely. Bloomberg in NY is trying to tell people what they can eat and drink and before you know it that will happen here. Where is the end, day by day big progressive government is taking our rights away and before you know it we will be nothing but empty zombies. Wake up people and stand up for your rights or one day you will wake up and be just that, a ZOMBIE TO BIG GOVERNMENT WITH NO HEART AND NO SOUL!!!!!!"
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All letters to the editor are published as a courtesy to readers, and opinions expressed/ claims made may or may not be shared by Middletown Insider staff.

Today is a sad and dark day in CT.  A tragedy that took 20 angels and 6 heroes at Sandy Hook has now become a tragedy for hundred of thousands of law abiding citizens.  

CT is now the Unconstitutional State.
Much darker days are coming.

I pray for every resident in this state.

GOD HELP US  ALL! 

Thomas Sebold, CT

editors note:
Thomas Sebold is a retired Middletown Police officer.

Letter to the Editor: Media Exaggerated Hartford Anti-Gun Rally Attendance

 Letter to the Editor:
All letters to the editor are printed as a courtesy and do not necessarily reflect the views of Insider staff.

Greetings Patriots:

Happy Valentine’s Day. Whether we’re married, in a relationship or single we all have one thing in common - love of country. Today at the State Capitol,  Connecticut’s gun control gang basked under bright blue skies and heard politicians’ pledge to stage an assault on the 2nd Amendment. You will see clips on the news tonight.

Main stream media sources are touting the size of the crowd at 5500. That’s the number the Capitol Police reported. After receiving some on the scene reports ( no…I didn’t attend this one), however,  we’re sure
that the police exaggerated the number by 4000. Why would they do that? I’ve asked Christine Stuart, CT’s News Junkie, to find out why.

I produced a comparison video this afternoon so people can decide for themselves. It shows the January 19, Guns Across America rally, which the media grudgingly admitted as a crowd of 1000, compared to pictures
of today’s March for Change rally.



The politicians, media and a large segment of the population believe they have staked out the moral high ground in the highly emotional argument which pits gun control versus gun rights. They are a cohesive
force to be reckoned with!

We must come together as an equal or better equipped and functioning political task force if we are to just maintain the status quo. We must become a one-issue voting block, if necessary. All the gun clubs,
hunting and sportsman’s clubs, Tea Parties, conservative politicians, other patriotic activist organizations, families and individuals need to find common ground when the time comes to respond to a question or
to an election, in defense of the Constitution.

Palin Smith

Letter to the Editor: Local Cops Discuss 2nd Amendment

Letter to the Middletown Insider Blog:
  Hello Middletown Insider friends,

I know you dont think highly of me but eh I thought I would share something with you. 

I shot a video this last Monday with Kurt Knapp and Tom Sebold where they talk about the issues surrounding new laws banning assault weapons.

Here is the link.  http://youtu.be/1zUS35hx5iA

I feel that your readers would appreciate this message.  If you embed the video as a post thats great.  If you dont that fine by me too.

Thanks,

Darrell Lucas

READER Solicited Essays: The CT Legislature is currently hearing testimony.  Please write to us at middletowninsider@gmail.com :

"What does the 2nd Amendment mean to you?"

*Thanks Darrell- Kurt Knapp is a retired Dispatcher & Aux. Police Officer and Thomas Sebold a retired Middletown Police Officer. We thank them both for their service and all involved with this video.

 Please find Darrel's video below:

From Sen. Chris Murphy: No More Assault Weapons

This e-mail came from  CT Senator Chris Murphy and ended up in the Insider's mailbox.

From: Chris Murphy

Subject: Today's announcement

Reply-To: Chris@chrismurphy.com

When I emailed you 13 days ago, I said that there had been 130 school shootings since assault weapons were used to murder 13 people at Columbine High School in 1999.With the tragic gun violence just two days ago at Lone Star College in Texas, that number is now sadly 131.

It’s been 41 days since an assault weapon was used to take 26 innocent lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. When will we finally say that enough is enoughAssault weapons are designed to kill people—period. They don’t belong on our streets. They don’t belong at our malls or our churches, on our college campuses, or in the halls of our elementary schools.

Maybe now is finally the time.

There are voices rising up in Newtown and in cities and towns across America, coming together to demand immediate action to ban assault weapons. We can’t wait – we can’t stand idly by while one more innocent life is lost.

That’s why today, I joined my colleagues, Senators Dianne Feinstein, Chuck Schumer, and Richard Blumenthal, and Representatives Carolyn McCarthy, Ed Perlmutter, and Elizabeth Esty to introduce a new ban on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.

Now, make no mistake. The opponents of sensible gun control are gearing up for a nationwide fight, and they’ll stop at nothing to flood our communities with even more guns.

Add your name to our petition at NoMoreAssaultWeapons.com to join voices all across the country in our call for the House and Senate to pass the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 immediately.

I hope you’ll join us.
Every best wish,

Chris