School Safety, Gun Violence Become Focus of GOP Governor Debate

Exactly one week after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, eight GOP candidates for governor of Connecticut took to the stage in West Haven. 

The issues ranged from ways to “drain the swamp” in Hartford and renegotiating the state’s agreement with its union employees to bringing jobs back to Connecticut and improving the state for retirees. 

The issue however that had debate moderators returning to it, was the issue of school safety and gun violence. 

State Rep. Prasad Srinivasan, (R – Glastonbury), previously told the Connecticut Citizens Defense League that he regretted his vote for the post-Sandy Hook gun regulations and said, as governor, he would sign a repeal of the legislation. 

No one on the stage Wednesday night at Notre Dame High School made a similar proposal and Srinivasan all but walked back his comments. He did not repeat his idea to repeal the law, but instead criticized its execution, pinpointing inadequacies in funding for school security and mental health programs. 

“We passed a bill that we did not implement and for me it is critical that you have to walk your talk and we did not do that,” Srinivasan said. 

The turnout was an impressive one for the Connecticut GOP. About 500 people, many of whom paid to be in attendance, filled the auditorium at Notre Dame. 

The crowd applauded for Peter Lumaj’s pledge to sign an executive order, if elected, that would put armed security at every school in Connecticut. He did not say how he would pay for such a proposal, but instead said he would find the people to do the job locally. 

“We have retired police officers and military people in our state who have served us well, who have protected you and I and we can trust them to protect our children.”

No candidate made any proposal or made any comment for that matter about further restrictions on firearms. Connecticut already has bans on assault-style weapons.

Tim Herbst, the former First Selectman from Trumbull, made his position clear on whether he thinks guns are responsible in mass shootings.

“A deadly weapon is made deadly by a deadly person,” he said.

He echoed the sentiment that the state hasn’t adequately funded mental health programs.