HARTFORD — State Sen. Joseph Crisco (D-17) and state Rep. Rosa Rebimbas (R-70) have been appointed to the legislature’s newly created Task Force on Gun Violence Prevention and Children’s Safety.
The task force was created to help channel the flow of ideas and initiatives prompted by the Newtown shootings in December. The task force will conduct a review of current law and make recommendations on a range of potential legislation to prevent gun violence, enhance school security and ensure the availability of mental health services in Connecticut.
The task force will have three separate working groups to focus on the issues of gun violence prevention, school security evaluations, and mental health screening and services. Crisco will serve on the mental health resources working group.
“There is a sad sense of urgency as the serious work of this task force gets underway and I believe all of its members understand, as I do, that we must seize this opportunity to make meaningful changes and better protect one another from gun violence,” Crisco said in a statement. “The horror in Newtown last month brought into the spotlight the undeniable fact that 30,000 shooting deaths per year are simply unacceptable.”
Rebimbas has been appointed to the gun control working group.
“The issues we will be looking into affect each and every one of us in Connecticut, from school children to seniors, and I look forward to working with my colleagues across the general assembly to find the best solutions to these incredibly difficult issues,” Rebimbas said in a statement. “Gun violence, access to mental health services and the safety and security of Connecticut’s residents are concerns we all share.”
The task force will hold its first meeting Friday and provide recommendations to Senate and House leadership with the goal of producing an emergency certified bill in late February.
“I have every confidence our working group will bring forward substantive recommendations with regard to helping mental health patients and their families,” Crisco said in a statement.
