V-day rally for gun control laws

WTNH TV

Updated: Feb 13, 2013 8:06 PM

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- Valentine's Day is expected to bring thousands of people who want tougher gun laws to the State Capitol. The 'March for Change' was put together by two Fairfield mothers spurred to action by the Sandy Hook tragedy.

These two Fairfield moms are working on the final preparations for what's expected to be a massive rally at the State Capitol tomorrow.

"This is a true grass roots effort and quite honestly each town is making their own signs so they're in their kitchens and art studios with their kids making signs also, so everybody is digging their hands in the dirt," said Meg Staunton of Fairfield.

Meg Staunton and Nancy Lefkowitz met because their kids go to the same school. It was the day of the tragedy at Sandy Hook that they started connecting with other concerned moms on the internet and in the past two months, these two have turned into an online organizational army of 25-hundred.

"I think everybody was outraged and felt the way we did, that people have been inspired by the fervor to do something and take action and everybody is fed up. Enough is enough," said Staunton.

Both moms attended the legislative hearings at the State Capitol and say they're not afraid of the opposition.

"I think the opposition that's tough is the fringe. I think that they're a vocal minority. We spoke to a lot of gun owners who are in favor of rational common sense regulations," said Lefkowitz.

They've had hundreds of tee shirts made and dozens of signs. 45 buses have been lined up to bring moms and others from all around the state. Major state political leaders from both political parties will attend and they plan to send a unified message to lawmakers.

"A ban on high capacity ammunition magazines, a ban on military style assault weapons, registration, annual registration on handguns, background checks universally, and limit to one handgun a month," said Lefkowitz.

The Legislative leadership had hoped to have a package of proposals ready to put to a vote by this Friday.

A spokesman for the leadership tells News 8 they do not expect to meet that deadline, partially because of the blizzard which stopped things at the Capitol for several days.

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