At its Thursday January 17th meeting the Town Committee adopted a “call to action” against gun violence,  joining other party committees and organizations this week in support of “concrete steps” to prevent tragedies such as Sandy Hook from ever happening again.

The resolution “condemns the unspeakable gun violence and loss of life in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14, 2012; extending sympathy, support and continuing prayer for the victims and their families and the entire Newtown community, and a call to action for our elected officials at the state and federal levels to help curb gun violence and prevent such tragedies from ever recurring.”

The resolution  endorses the “common sense agenda” put forth by the bipartisan coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns and similar steps announced by President Obama on January 16, 2013, including criminal background checks for every gun buyer, including purchases online and at gun shows, enacting a federal assault weapons ban that expired in 2004.

It calls on Congress to allow the appointment of  a director to the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Explosives, which has gone without an official leaders for more than six years and strengthening the National Instant Criminal Background Check System that has been weakened by Congressional action by restricting access to federal gun data. Legislation is needed to repeal remaining restrictions under the Tiahrt Amendments.

The resolution supports new legislation being introduced by Senator Richard Blumenthal, the Ammunition Background Check Act of 2013, which would require instant background checks for the sale of gun ammunition and recognizes that in addition to new firearm regulations, a comprehensive approach to reducing the violence “must include improved access to mental health resources.”

The resolution was sent to the Mayor, members of the Common Council and New Britain’s state legislative delegation.