Malloy meets with New London officials on gun control proposals

NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTNH) -- While protesters gathered at the Capitol, Governor Malloy was on the road drumming up support for his proposals on gun control.

In New London he found some like-minded leaders, leaders who pushed for New London's recent gun buy back program.

"Taking these guns off the street from lawful owners disposes a weapon so they never see the street and they will never be involved in a crime in the state of Connecticut," said Acting Chief Peter Reichard of the New London Police Department.
  
The governor met with the Acting Chief and New London's mayor, seeking input on his gun violence prevention proposals, which include background checks for the transfer of any firearm and expand the state's assault weapon ban.

"It is our hope that we'll do away with the sale of these weapons in the future and then slowly but surely they'll leave or society," said Gov. Malloy.

While the governor was in New London, the National Shooting Sports Foundation held a Lobby Day in Hartford and saying his proposals severely inhibit your right to bear arms.

News 8 asked the governor what he thought about that. He told us gun owners will keep their guns as long as they pass a background check.

"Which is a way of saying if you're a felon, you're not going to be able to keep it. If you have been committed to a mental institution, you're not going to be able to keep it," said Gov. Malloy.

"If you look at the details on these proposals they win broad support even among law abiding gun owners," said New London Mayor Daryl Finizio.

The mayor says the gun violence in New London is a lot less than it is in other cities but the population in New London is about a quarter of what it is in other cities and the mayor also says police are concentrating patrol efforts on areas where there has already been trouble.