A coalition of municipal leaders, police and clergy gathered in Bridgeport on Monday, calling on gun manufacturers to make their weapons safer.
Public entities like police departments make up a significant share of the U.S. gun industry’s market.
Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch said cities should leverage that fact to insist that manufacturers adopt smarter technologies. "You can make, right now, a gun that I could place in my hand, that won't fire if it doesn't have the right palm print," he said. "You can make those with the technology available. Why aren't they making them?"
Members of CONECT -- Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut -- attended the event. Also there was Newtown Police Chief Michael Kehoe, whose officers responded to the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
The Connecticut effort is part of a national campaign called Do Not Stand Idly By. The goal is to get gun manufacturers to make gun safety and responsible sales among their highest priorities.
The Newtown-based National Shooting Sports Foundation says gun manufacturers already have safety programs in place, including one to keep guns out of the hands of those who can’t legally own them, and one to promote safe use and storage among legal gun owners.
WSHU Public Radio contributed to this report.
