Bridgeport mayor, residents talk gun control

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) -- The leaders of more Connecticut cities and towns are coming forward in support of Governor Malloy's gun control reform proposal.

Thursday we heard from from Bridgeport's Mayor and the families of murder victims about why Connecticut's gun laws need to change.

Twenty-one people were murdered in Bridgeport last year. Many of them were just kids. The Mayor says that's why we need new laws.

"My uncle Richard Gee Jr. was shot and killed July 17, 2010," said Latifah Melendez.

"I lost my son...he was 18 years old," said Nicole Matthews.

"My name is Theresa Russell, I lost my 17-year-old son Blair."

Her son was killed by a stray bullet in a park in Bridgeport.

"He was at a birthday party and he came outside and a bullet was for someone else and unfortunately he was in the way," Russell said.

His life and too many others have been cut short by gun violence. Many in the state's largest city say they live in fear that they could be next.

"I'm kind of scared to walk out of the house and not know," Melendez said. "I might be hit by a stray bullet, you never know."

Together these women have been lobbying for a change in gun laws. They say it took the tragedy in Newtown for the issue to be taken up by the state, and nation. They're just grateful to see words put into action.

"The people that can make a change we're getting to talk to them now," Russell said. "So hopefully that will bring some results."

They're now an active part of the discussion. They met with the Vice President last week and have been in touch with the Sandy Hook families.

"We met them," Matthews said. "It was overwhelming, but at the same time we lost our kids too and unfortunately it took this for people to really see the faces to so many kids who have been lost, but we just want change."

This is why Bridgeport's Mayor says he's backing Governor Malloy's plan for gun control.

"The time for talking is over and we demand action," said Mayor Bill Finch.

The Mayor says the city has taken action through its Gun Buyback program.

He says more than 750 guns have been taken off the streets since the program started in December. He says the first gun they bought back was a Bushmaster AR-15 rifle, the same gun used in the Newtown shooting.