© 2026 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

Gun Laws Take Center Stage in State and National Politics

Deputy Chief Brian J. Foley, twitter feed @ltfoley
Gun seized by Hartford Police Department

For a state that doesn't usually get much attention from presidential candidates, we’ve had a barrage of visits from Democrats and Republicans in the last few weeks, talking about issues that resonate with voters here: guns. Like Hillary Clinton, who brought Sandy Hook families and community members together for a forum in downtown Hartford. 

And long before the primaries are over, Connecticut state legislators will likely be voting on at least one bill that could change gun policy in the state. Should a temporary restraining order force a person to turn over their firearms to police? Should towns and cities be able to pass stricter permit standards than the state, and what justification do police need to check those permits?

This hour, we talk about guns: how candidates are taking on the issue, and what supporters and opponents have to say about several bills currently making their way through the Capitol.

GUESTS: 

  • Patrick Skahill - WNPR reporter 
  • Steven Stafstrom - Democratic State Representative, Bridgeport
  • Karen Jarmoc - President and CEO, Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence 
  • Doug Dubitsky - Republican State Representative

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Lydia Brown and John Dankosky contributed to this show.

Catie Talarski was a senior director of storytelling and radio programming at Connecticut Public.

Federal funding is gone.

Congress has eliminated all funding for public media.

That means $2.1 million per year that Connecticut Public relied on to deliver you news, information, and entertainment programs you enjoyed is gone.

The future of public media is in your hands.

All donations are appreciated, but we ask in this moment you consider starting a monthly gift as a Sustainer to help replace what’s been lost.

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.

Federal funding is gone.

Congress has eliminated all funding for public media.

That means $2.1 million per year that Connecticut Public relied on to deliver you news, information, and entertainment programs you enjoyed is gone.

The future of public media is in your hands.

All donations are appreciated, but we ask in this moment you consider starting a monthly gift as a Sustainer to help replace what’s been lost.