Leaders Remain ‘Optimistic' in Gun Talks

Legislative leaders wrap-up the second day of closed door talks. They are trying to come up with a bipartisan agreement on new gun control legislation nearly three months after 20 students and 6 educations died at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Leaders on both sides of the aisle said they are optimistic but they did not offer too many details on Thursday.
 
"Obviously there is no overall agreement yet, but we're still talking and still identifying areas of concern," Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney.
 
The three subcommittees of the legislature's Sandy Hook Task Force have made their recommendations. However the big sticking points appear to be a plan to ban high capacity magazines and assault-style weapons.
 
"I think there are a lot of sticking points," Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, said. "Clearly there are differences on the mental health subcommittee and the gun violence subcommittee."
 
Other states, including New York, have already passed tougher gun laws in the wake of the Newtown tragedy.
 
The Newtown Action Alliance, a group representing some of the victims, is putting the pressure on. They sent a letter to state lawmakers on Wednesday night urging them to 'act decisively... without further delay.' They're calling on the General Assembly to vote no later than March 14, the three month anniversary of the tragedy.
 
It's a deadline legislative leaders admit will likely not be met.
 
"The logistics of actually getting a bill done, it may take that a little bit beyond the 14th," Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey, said.
 
Lawmakers added that any draft bill that they agree too will then be put before the public before any vote is taken.
 
 
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