Newtown gun panel to hold final meeting

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Members of a legislative working group reviewing gun laws following the Newtown school shooting are planning a final meeting to discuss which recommendations they plan to make to legislative leaders.

Even though the General Assembly's Bipartisan Task Force on Gun Violence Prevention and Children's Safety had originally hoped lawmakers could vote on a package of changes at the end of February, House Speaker Brendan Sharkey said Thursday he's optimistic a vote will happen in mid-March.

Lawmakers were delayed by the recent blizzard and the volume of work.

Three working groups of the task force are reviewing gun violence, mental health and school security issues. The school security working group has already forwarded its ideas to legislative leaders.

The gun panel has scheduled its final meeting for Tuesday to compile recommendations.