Malloy's Newtown panel releases interim report

WTNH TV

Updated: Mar 18, 2013 6:08 PM

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- The commission that was put together by Governor Dannel Malloy after the tragedy at Sandy Hook has released an interim report.

A 16 page report includes such ideas as locks for all K-12 classrooms and creating a panel that comes up with ideas to retrofit schools in the next 12 months.

The ideas in here that will stir debate, however, is certainly the gun issue.

In the days and weeks that followed Sandy Hook, there's been a vast difference of opinion on such matters as school safety, mental health, and gun control. The latest recommendations come from the Governor's Sandy Hook Advisory Commission. Former Hartford police Chief Bernard Sullivan is the vice-chair.

"You take into perspective your own experience over the years, of course, put it all together and try to make recommendations that make sense," said Sullivan.

Ideas from the appointed commission include:

*  Mandatory background checks on sale of any firearm
*  Registering any firearm
*  Ban on sale, possession of any magazine in excess of 10 rounds
*  Ban on possession, sale of any firearm capable of firing more than 10 rounds without reloading

Those and other ideas are included in the  Sandy Hook Advisory Commission's interim report to Malloy, submitted on Monday.

"I've seen enough dead bodies in my lifetime caused by gun violence, as a police officer, more than anybody on that panel. I have probably personally seen 100 people killed by gunfire, so that's my knowledge of guns, which is a lot more than taking it out and shooting it at a range," said Sullivan. "I'm all for hunters, I have no problem with that, no problem with people carrying weapons for self-defense, keeping them at their homes, but at some point we've got to have some control in the type of weapons that are out there, that can be used in this manner that could fire so many bullets at one time without reloading."

Gun-rights advocates were quick to dispute similar ideas that have been debated at the capital, citing the need to enforce current laws.

"Ridiculous. Nothing we haven't seen before, nothing we haven't defeated in the past," said James Crook.

Crook from the Coalition of Connecticut Sportsman is not surprised by the recommendations, but says once again hours of debate fails to pinpoint the real problem.

"Mental health is the priority. I know nothing about mental health, but obviously that was the cause," said Crook.

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