Rep. DebraLee Hovey has urged that funds be restored in the state budget to enforce existing state gun laws and reduce urban violence. Rep. Hovey said the governor’s proposed budget and a Republican version of the budget had preserved this funding.
A two-year state budget written by the Democratic majority passed the state House and Senate in a divided vote June 26. But it eliminated all funding for both the Gun Law Enforcement Task Force and the State Police Urban Violence Task Force.
Governor M. Jodi Rell, however, has vetoed that budget plan which would have imposed $2.25 billion in tax increases. Negotiations are continuing on a compromise budget.
Rep. Hovey said, “While I support the Second Amendment rights to bear arms, I do believe we need to be enforcing the laws and assuring that people are safe and secure in their homes and their communities.”
“To slash funds for these two important public safety task forces makes no sense whatsoever,” said Rep. Hovey. “Getting illegal guns off the streets and reducing violence should be top priorities in good economic times and in bad times.”
Rep. Hovey said she is working with bipartisan colleagues on both sides of the aisle to encourage the restoration of this funding to protect the people of the cities, towns and rural areas across Connecticut.
