Gun control advocates rally at capitol

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- Gun control advocates invaded the offices of many state lawmakers today for some face-to-face, one-on-one lobbying. Many of the organizers of last month's big gun control rally were personally pushing for change today.

"What good is a prospective ban when it is not going to have the affect of taking that ability away of getting those clips off the streets," said Diane Geisert of Easton.

People advocating the Governor's gun control proposals confronted mostly Republican lawmakers today in an effort to get them on board.

"We have to make sure we're not just going to pass a symbolic gesture. That's not going to help the problem. The people are going to say, 'look at the great thing we did,' and nothing changes," said Republican Rep. John Shaban of Redding.

"Scott, please, I am begging you for the great state of Connecticut and for these 26 children," said one woman.

"I know you're begging but here's the deal," said State Sen. Scott Frantz of Greenwich.

They squeezed into Senator Frantz's office attempting to nail him down on his position on the proposed ban on ammuntion magazines of more than ten bullets.

"Are you getting closer to a point of view on this...I mean I feel like," said another woman.

"It's somewhere between fifteen and nineteen and that's for practical purposes because if they're going to lump all firearms together, you're talking about a lot of handgun owners who use them for, you know, potential protection of their home and their family," said Sen. Frantz.

"C'mon in here," said Rep. Leader Larry Cafero.

"We just want a couple of minutes," said Nancy Lefkowitz of Fairfield.

"Sure, come on in," said Rep. Cafero.

The two moms from Fairfield that organized last month's huge rally sat down with House Republican leader Larry Cafero in an attempt to get him on board.

"I think he feels as we feel; we all want to pass legislation that will make people feel safer," said Lefkowitz.

"Does that mean that you're in favor of the Governor's proposals with regard to the assault style weapons and the high capacity magazines," asked News 8's Mark Davis.

"No, it does not mean that, number one and I'm not going to say publically exactly what I'm in favor of because I'm still in the midst of negotiating," said Rep. Cafero.

While the Governor waits for legislative leaders to hammer out a package of gun control bills that can face a vote sometime before the end of the month, 12 of those bills come up before the powerful Public Safety Committee for a public hearing tomorrow.  

It'll be another big day about guns at the capitol.