An Ansonia man is accused of threatening a local state representative with a shooting like the Arizona rampage should gun legislation pass in Connecticut.
John Matika, 67, of Ansonia, called the office of his Democratic state Representative, Linda Gentile, several times on March 24 and 25 about proposed gun legislation about firearm magazine capacities, police said.
The bill would ban guns that take more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
During the calls, he said something like the shooting in Arizona that critically injured Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, left eight people dead and 12 more with gunshot wounds would happen in Connecticut if the gun bill passes, police said.
Ansonia police stopped Matika’s car on March 31, on Jackson Street, took him into custody on a warrant from Hartford Superior Court and turned him over to the State Capitol Police.
When Ansonia police searched Matika’s home on a warrant, they found 15 weapons, including three assault rifles, an Uzi and several other long guns and handguns.
"It's one thing to make those types of threats and comments, but then to have an arsenal at the same time and access to the arsenal, well that's where you get really concerned," said Ansonia police chief Kevin Hale.
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Matika tells NBC Connecticut he is a gun collector and never threatened Gentile's life. He admits he may have worded things the wrong way when he called to express his opinion.
Matika is a diabetic, suffers from chronic bronchitis and has a pacemaker. He says he would never hurt anyone.
"I can't call Rep. Gentile up and get this straightened out because the police won't let me. She hasn't called me either though. I never said I'd hurt her," said Matika.
Matika was charged with second-degree harassment and released on $1,000 bond. He is due in court on April 8.
Opponents of the legislation said the proposal was a knee-jerk reaction to the Arizona shootings, the very shootings that Matika is accused of referencing in his calls.
