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Letter: Fairfield Candidate Fawcett On Women, Gun Safety, Lawmaking

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- ?The Fairfield Daily Voice accepts signed letters to the editor. Please send letters to fairfield@dailyvoice.com

State Rep. Kim Fawcett

State Rep. Kim Fawcett

Photo Credit: Contributed

To the editor:

Passage of Connecticut's comprehensive gun legislation in 2013 was a victory for advocates of gun safety and sent a clear, bipartisan message that people want commonsense restrictions on the use and sale of firearms.

Our state can now lay claim to the strictest gun laws in the nation. We have a ban on high-capacity magazines containing more than 10 rounds of ammunition, a greatly expanded ban on assault weapons that includes more than 100 additional gun models, required background checks for nearly all private gun sales, and a requirement that anyone purchasing ammunition have a gun ownership permit.

But other less well-known components of the gun legislation are equally important in the ongoing effort to reverse the frightening statistics on gun violence. Several key provisions lay the groundwork for improving school security and addressing gaps in youth mental health services. Many legislators, particularly my female colleagues, fought hard to keep these sections in the final legislation.

Our ultimate goal must be to do a better job identifying young people who are struggling and to find effective ways to intervene and provide treatment. The gun bill created a task force to conduct a comprehensive study of Connecticut's mental health system. As part of that effort, Children and Families Commissioner Joette Katz released a report for public comment outlining a five-year plan for reaching out to our most vulnerable youth. 

Among the most outspoken supporters of commonsense gun laws across the country are mothers, and they have shown that their passion and political will rivals that of any NRA member. A recent national survey conducted by Everytown for Gun Safety indicates that 75 percent of women believe it is possible to protect Second Amendment rights and keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.

Clearly, women are a formidable force. Everytown and another organization, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, have joined forces with financial backing from Michael Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns, to fight for change via political action and savvy social media campaigns. 

Women played a key role within the General Assembly to ensure passage of the Connecticut gun law. There were many of us who banded together in mutual grief and anger in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy to fight for legislation that had enough substance to make an impact. I have had the honor of getting to know several powerhouse moms who are making a difference through the Newtown Action Alliance and Sandy Hook Promise. And it was two Fairfield moms who coordinated the highly effective "March for Change" rally in Hartford.

Several times, it was our unofficial "women's caucus" that demanded we not give up when divisions seemed insurmountable. Partisanship threatened to derail our efforts. Several amazing women leaders elected in NRA strongholds stood tall against the pressure and helped us all fight for the bill.

Perhaps women are accustomed to messiness in their own lives. They know how to ignore the shouting, balance multiple obligations at home and at work, find compromises that keep the peace, and persevere each day to reach their goals. It's truly amazing what we can do when we work together!

Kim Fawcett 

Fawcett is a four-term state representative for Fairfield's 133rd District. She is a candidate for State Senate District 28 representing Easton, Fairfield and Newtown and parts of Weston and Westport.

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