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Biden, Bloomberg Talk Newtown And Guns

As a federal push for an assault weapons ban seemingly fades, gun control advocates at the state level are keeping the pressure on. In New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg held a press conference today with the vice president and Newtown families calling for tougher gun laws.

Bloomberg says he's is passionate about gun safety. "Because we believe that we have a responsibility to help free our country from the gun violence that takes lives and breaks hearts every single day, all year round." Bloomberg pointed a finger at Congress, and asked whether it has the courage to do what he says is the right thing. Meanwhile, he also spoke about Connecticut.

"Governor Malloy has proposed and legislators appear prepared to act on firearms safety reforms, as well. They include making private gun sales subject to background checks, limiting the size of high capacity ammunition magazines, and strengthening anti-gun trafficking measures." Bloomberg didn't mention an assault weapons ban. Vice President Joe Biden made his case, too. "Three months ago, a deranged man walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School with a weapon of war. That's what he walked in with, with a weapon of war. And that weapon of war has no place on American streets and taking it of America's streets has no impact on one's constitutional rights to own a weapon."

Both men were flanked by two families of children who died in Newtown, as well as by the family of one of the school's slain teachers. Lynn McDonnell's daughter Grace was one of the children killed. "We'd ask everyone who has power to influence legislation in this area, and, of course, those whose job it is to vote on the legislation to ask themselves if they are doing enough to bring about real and meaningful change and, if they are not, to ask themselves, 'Why not?'"

Meanwhile, gun makers in Connecticut have repeatedly said that tighter laws on the kinds of weaponry used in Newtown would not make the country any safer.

Jeff Cohen started in newspapers in 2001 and joined Connecticut Public in 2010, where he worked as a reporter and fill-in host. In 2017, he was named news director. Then, in 2022, he became a senior enterprise reporter.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Connecticut Public’s journalism is made possible, in part by funding from Jeffrey Hoffman and Robert Jaeger.