Legislative leaders to begin crafting Newtown bill

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Legislative leaders will begin the process of reviewing recommendations on laws affecting gun violence, school safety and mental health care, and crafting a bill that responds to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown.

Democratic and Republican leaders were scheduled to meet on Wednesday afternoon for the first time since three subcommittees forwarded their suggestions.

The meeting comes as a new Quinnipiac University poll shows strong support for gun control measures, including universal background checks, a gun offender registry, new permit requirements, expansion of Connecticut's assault weapons ban and a ban on large capacity magazines.

While the Republican members of the gun violence subcommittee did not recommend bans on more assault weapons large-capacity magazines, Democratic Senate President Donald Williams Jr. says lawmakers should heed the poll's findings.