Guns the talk of New Britain forum

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) -- Governor Malloy held a community forum in New Britain Thursday night. The city is home to a large firearms manufacturing industry so the debate over gun control was front and center.

"You already have my identification, you already have my photograph," said one woman.

Governor Malloy tried to get a word in as a pro gun advocate speaks. She was one of several who voiced concerns at a community forum in New Britain on Thursday.

"I don't think high capacity should be different from civilian or police use being is that we face the same bad guys in certain situations," said one man.

Though guns dominated the conversation, other topics like education were on the table.

"Although guns are an important and controversial issue, there's some irony in coming in to a school and hijacking a meeting that's in a public school to advocate for guns," said Sharon Beloin-Saavedra, New Britain Board of Education President.

The principal of New Britain High School also spoke and asked the governor about state spending per student in the city. The governor says school funding is a big part of his proposed budget.

"Last year we sent an additional $244.55 per student in the New Britain school system as a result of changes we made to the last budget and we are looking to send even more money next year," said Gov. Malloy.

Still most people at the forum were focused on proposed gun legislation, how it could impact second amendment rights and even the local economy.

"I own to manufacturing companies in the city of New Britain employing approximately 125 people. If they were to ban magazines based on arbitrary capacities, it would essentially decrease the amount of products I could manufacture," said Jonathan Scalise, Amunition Storage Components.