Hartford Speaks: We the People Can Save the Second Amendment

by Justin Snide
DTHartford Staff

     Despite gun violence being a major issue for states all across the country, citizens are still holding their ground and doing all that is possible to protect the Second Amendment. On March 14, a hearing was held at the Connecticut State Capitol building in Hartford, CT, to discuss gun policies and to try and find an effective way of gun control in the state of Connecticut. Since the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting on December 14, that left twenty children and six adult staff members dead, gun control has been a major topic of interest in the Hartford community. 

     The 42nd Annual Greater Hartford St. Patrick's Day Parade was held on Saturday, March 9th. The famous Irish colors green and white held a second meaning this year. The colors were utilized to honor those affected by the Sandy Hook Shooting, as Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and members of the Newtown community started the parade. The December shooting has played a major part in legislature moving forward in their gun control policies, but some local residents are fed up with the lack of results involving the issue. 
     “It is time for the legislature to actually do something positive, their needs to be less talk and more affirmative action regarding personal gun control,” said Hartford resident Michael Gary.   

     So what can we the people do to help move these policies along? Many people have already started making an effort in moving this process forward. The public's first actions started by getting rid of the problem completely, by selling their old firearms and ammunition. 
      However, there are many other people who do not want to take this step because they believe it violates their rights as Americans, and goes against the Second Amendment. When the United States Constitution was created, the Second Amendment was made to protect our rights to keep and bear arms. For many years guns have been more than just a weapon, they have been used as tools for many different purposes. Until recently, guns have never seemed to be a topic of concern. Since the recent tragedies that have taken place in the last year, however, government officials and lawmakers have been pushing to make a change. 

     As legislators look to pass new bills regarding gun policy, some residents of the community are unhappy with the decisions they have imposed.  One bills’ goal is to make it illegal for someone under the age of 21 from buying a rifle or firearm.  
     Lucille Lenares of Wethersfield, CT had much to say regarding this bill that has been tabled in legislature. “If my 18-year-old son is a responsible enough adult to be drafted into the army and handed a gun to utilize, then why isn’t any other 18 year old person responsible enough to own a gun?” said Lenares.  Lenares also had the same thoughts for the drinking age of the country as well.  

     With all of the commotion regarding gun control in Connecticut, President Barack Obama has been scheduled to speak at the University of Hartford about his plan for gun control nationwide.  Preparations for the speech began early last week as agents from the The United States Secret Service arrived on the university’s campus to scope out the athletic center, where the speech will be held. President Obama has been very active recently in trying to make changes regarding gun control as seen in his recent public speakings.  On Thursday, students waited in line for as long as four hours, hoping to receive a ticket for admission to Obama’s speech.  
      University of Hartford student Kevin Smith was one of the lucky students that was able to get a ticket for the event. Smith said, “Although I don’t agree with everything Obama is trying to do, seeing him speak at my University will be a unique experience that I will never forget.” The speech took place on Monday April 8th.

     President Walter Harrison of the University of Hartford said, "All of us in the University of Hartford community are pleased and proud to welcome President Barack Obama to the University campus."

     More information about President Obama's speech can be found at http://www.hartford.edu/president-obama/message-uhart-president.aspx

Week in Review: April 5-12

by Lauren Milka
DT Hartford Staff

     As known from last week's "Week in Review" post, and from news coverage around the country, the University of Hartford was busy last week and weekend preparing for President Obama, who spoke on Monday, April 8 urging for a vote on gun control related issues by Congress. Just four days before this speech, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy signed the state's new bill that addresses such gun control issues like universal background checks.
      As reported by CT News Junkie writers Hugh McQuaid and Christine Stuart, President Obama made a point of emphasizing in his speech, "Connecticut, this is not about me. This is not about politics. This is about doing the right thing for all the families that are here that have been torn apart by gun violence."
     As this was an exciting day for the University of Hartford and state of Connecticut, it is the hope of many that this is just the beginning of a debate that will result in a vote on a country-wide level. For full coverage of the speech by CT News Junkie, go here. A link to President Obama's speech can be found here from the White House's official website.
      The very next day on Tuesday night in Atlanta, the UCONN Women's Basketball Team won the National Championship, beating Louisville 93-60. This is the eighth win for the school's women's basketball team, and John Altavilla of the Courant's Women's Basketball blog posted "10 Things about UConn's Skate to Eight" the day after the team's big win. One point to note is that this eighth national title win was also the eighth for coach Geno Auriemma, who is now tied for most national title wins with retired Syracuse Women's Basketball Coach Pat Summit.
     Such an historic win for the team will be celebrated in Hartford on Sunday, April 14, ending with a rally at the State Capitol building. The parade is set to begin at 4:00 PM, also beginning at the State Capitol. The route of the parade can be found here at the official website for the UCONN Women's Basketball team.
     Wednesday, April 10 was the National Day of Action for immigration reform, which was recognized here in Hartford with rallies and a march organized by the Connecticut Immigrant Rights Alliance. State Representatives Juan Candelaria and Gary Holder-Winfield were handed a petition for immigration reform with over 900 signatures from students in the Hartford area, according to Real Hartford's Kerri Provost.
     Says Provost, "Yanil Teron, the Executive Director for the Center for Latino Progress, [a speaker for the event], said 'this is not about Latinos,' and proceeded to list all the countries and nationalities she knew were represented in the crowd." Provost's story about the event contains many photos and a video, which can be found here.
     Wrapping up a week of exciting events for the city of Hartford was Taste of the Nation Hartford on Thursday night, an annual event designed to raise money to end childhood hunger. The event drew about 500 patrons, who were able to choose dishes from area restaurants that participated, such as Bridgewater Chocolates, Wood 'n Tap, Dish, Carbone's, Infinity Hall, and more. Co-Chair and celebrity chef, Billy Grant, was quoted by MaryEllen Fillo in a story in her Courant blog JAVA: "We're making inroads to fight hunger in children in Hartford and all the money we raise tonight will be put toward that end." Photos from the successful event can be found here.

Week in Review: March 30-April 5

by Lauren Milka
DTHartford Staff

       The city of Hartford has been flooded with the hope of change and new beginnings over the past week. Last Wednesday, a charrette was held at the University of Hartford Handel Performing Arts Center to discuss the redevelopment of the area of Albany Avenue and Homestead Avenue. This area of Hartford, just beyond downtown, is full of abandoned buildings and vacant lots, but it is also an area that gets much commuter traffic. The redevelopment ideas were spread across tables used by many different groups sharing their own ideas for projects. RealHartford's Kerri Provost shared the experience, explaining that several of the ideas that were being shared were, in her opinion, not thought out too well. She says about one idea for relocating Hartford Lumber: "Having to interrupt and press for an answer, I learned that no, the businesses being considered for relocation had not been approached." 

     The people in attendance were allowed to vote about what ideas they liked or not, but as Provost explains: "At the charrette, participants were encouraged to vote for designs they liked and provide comments. An Albany/Homestead Goals Timeline Sheet was given so opinions on priorities and timeframes could be given, but they were just distributed with no explanation." 
Provost's story about her experience at the charrette can be found on her blog here. 

     The very next day on Thursday, April 4, Gov. Dannel Malloy signed the state's new gun control bill, which was the same day that would have been one of the Newtown victim's 7th birthday. Mayor Pedro Segarra of Hartford said of the signing "Today is an historic day for the state of Connecticut. [...] We have proven today that you can achieve consensus and move beyond the partisan bickering to affect real change." The entire quote from Mayor Segarra can be found here from Hartford Cityline's author, Vanessa de la Torre. Photos from the signing can be found here from the Hartford Courant's website. 

     On Friday, April 5, the excitement over the new bill for the state of Connecticut carried over into the messages of those urging Congress to move forward with a national gun control bill. US Sens. Blumenthal and Murphy were at Hartford City Hall preparing to speak with Congress and urge them to make further progress on the bill, showing that it can in fact be done. CT NewsJunkie contributor Christine Stuart wrote about the aftermath of the state's bill, and what this means now for the country. She writes: "They need 60 votes in the Senate to proceed with a debate on legislation that would expand criminal background checks to all gun purchases and put an end to gun trafficking. An assault weapons ban and a ban on high-capacity magazines seems out of reach, but [Blumenthal and Murphy] remain hopeful those measures will also get a vote." Stuart's story can be found in its entirety on CT NewsJunkie. 

     Stuart also mentions in her article about President Obama's visit to Hartford, happening this coming Monday, April 8 at the University of Hartford. Tickets to the event were available for a limited number of current faculty, staff, and students on Friday, who are anticipating the President's speech about national gun control. The Connecticut Post expanded on the details of the new state bill, as well as details about the President's coming visit. 

     In a state where new beginnings are afoot, the University of Hartford had students and staff volunteers venture downtown to help with the new beginnings of the coming springtime. The school's third annual event "Hawks Helping Hartford" happened on Friday, April 5 -- which was one of the first days of the year that has actually felt like Spring weather -- with four different areas needing service. Volunteers started their work with a meeting on campus at the campus center before heading out to their four different sites: Mortensen River Front Plaza, where volunteers swept, planted, and mulched for spring beautification; Hyland Park, where volunteers made repairs to the Little League field; Clay Arsenal and Albany Avenue, where volunteers picked up litter in the area; and Tabor House, a home for homeless men living with HIV/AIDS, where volunteers cleaned and inside and outside of the home. The Hartford Guardian has more details about the day of service.