Senator Chapin Meets With Constituents in Goshen [Waterbury Republican American]

Article as it appeared in the Waterbury Republican American on February 1, 2013

Legislators discuss guns, state spending

By John McKenna

GOSHEN — Three legislators received an earful on issues ranging from gun control to state spending during a meeting with the public on Thursday.

State Sen. Clark Chapin, R-New Milford, and state Reps. Jay M. Case, R-Winchester, and Roberta B. Willis, D-Salisbury, faced an audience of 35 local residents to discuss legislative priorities and gauge opinion on various matters as the legislative session begins heating up.

State Sen. Clark Chapin, R-New Milford, answers a question during a public forum Thursday at Goshen Town Hall. (Courtesy John McKenna)

Discussion of the potential for stricter gun control legislation, as expected in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, consumed a big chunk of the 80-minute forum.

Willis, serving on the legislature’s new gun violence and school safety committee, said the committee is taking a broad approach that includes looking at ways to improve mental health services.

“We know we have to do something and we have to do it as soon as possible,” Willis said. “The question is how extensive will it be.”

John Morris, chairman of Goshen’s Republican Town Committee and an insurance professional, called the Sandy Hook shootings an example of how the state has failed to provide adequate access to mental health services.

“Mental health is where the ball has been dropped, yet I haven’t heard one proposal that would get at the root of all this,” Morris said.

Had adequate mental health services been in place, the killer in the Sandy Hook slayings, Adam Lanza, might have been identified as a potential threat and removed from society, Willis said. Legislators are discussing what should be done without the benefit of a full state police report on the shootings, which has yet to be released. State police have said some information about Lanza’s mental health may never be public because of privacy concerns.

“The mental health aspect is a huge part of what our committee is looking at,” Willis said. “We need to make sure treatment people can afford is available.”

Goshen First Selectman Wilrose Duquette suggested tightening requirements for the pistol permits he, as first selectman, signs. The current process, Duquette said, falls short. “There’s no way to keep weapons out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them, because there’s not enough information being given to us before we sign a permit,” Duquette said.

Duquette said he would like full access to information found in background checks, which he said he currently does not have, before he signs a permit.

Chapin and Case allowed Willis to handle most of the gun control conversation.

Another topic discussed was state spending.

Chapin said he would like to believe in Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s promise not to reduce municipal aid in next year’s budget but said the level of spending would ultimately be determined by the legislature.

Morris, however, said government spending is out of control and that municipal aid will have to be cut to bridge a projected $2 billion budget deficit over the next two years.

If municipal aid is reduced, Chapin said he would support mandate relief for cities and as a way to make up for the loss of aid.

“It’s going to be hard, because we’ve made the easy cuts and now we’re down to meat and bone,” Willis said. “There are going to be some tough decisions.”

There was also criticism of Malloy’s First Five program, the easy availability of state grants despite the budget crisis, the New Britain to Hartford busway, and spending at the University of Connecticut.

Morris called the First Five program, which gave companies tax breaks, corporate bribery.

“It’s a ludicrous, insane practice,” Morris said. “It’s an example of government being out of control.” Willis said she did not support First Five and would instead favor doing more for small business.

“I agree with (Morris), and that’s unusual,” Willis said.