© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Connecticut Gun Rights Group President To Step Down

Ryan Lindsay
/
Connecticut Public Radio
Members of the Connecticut Citizens Defense League participate in a public hearing at the state Capitol.

The Connecticut Citizens Defense League’s co-founder and president, Scott Wilson, has announced he will not seek reelection after 10 years at the post.

 

Wilson helped found in 2009 what is now the state’s largest gun rights organization, turning its online meetings into a full-fledged group.

“At that time, I had made a statement which very simply was, ‘I think we need a gun rights organization in the state, and I think I can get us pointed in the right direction if people will trust me,’” Wilson said.

The organization has grown to more than 30,000 members statewide, he said. CCDL played a prominent role in advocating against the 2012 gun control proposals the state later passed after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Wilson said that some of CCDL’s strongest moments came “in the aftermath of the horrific tragedy at Sandy Hook, being able to hold the organization together, stand with each other in spite of tremendous gun control proposals that have arisen since then and being able to try to reason with our legislators.”

CCDL members are a regular presence at the Capitol on days when gun legislation is up for debate. Their members pile into the designated public comment rooms, often waiting hours to speak before lawmakers.

“This was an organization that was built for gun owners to advocate for themselves,” Wilson said. “Just being able to build this organization, to serve gun owners in the state of Connecticut and now being able to hand it off to another president is something that really does make me proud.”

Wilson will remain on the organization’s executive committee but said he looks forward to having more time to spend with his granddaughter. CCDL will elect a new president in December.

 

Ryan Lindsay has been asking questions since she figured how to say her first few words. She eventually figured out that journalism is the profession where you can and should always ask questions.

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.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

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.