Oxford's representative in the state senate questions why people cannot access information on their neighbors who have felonies related to gun crimes on their records.
Sen. Rob Kane, R-Watertown, on May 14 proposed a measure in the in the Senate that would make public the names and addresses of those who are found guilty of gun crimes in Connecticut. Under current law, only public safety officials have access to this information.
Kane’s proposal was defeated by the state senate on a party line vote, but Kane still wants to educate the public of his proposal and may bring it up in the future.
“The state’s sex offender registry is available for all to see,” Kane said. “It’s one of the most visited and useful state websites. People want to know who their neighbors are. The sex offender registry has bolstered public safety and has given parents and families key information to make educated decisions.”
The state’s sex offender registry can be accessed by visiting www.communitynotification.com.
“By the same token, the public should be able to know where violent felons who have committed crimes with guns live,” Kane said. “A gun felon registry would accomplish that goal. Right now, the public is in the dark. Why are we protecting these felons? People should be able to find out if someone who has committed an offense with a deadly weapon is living in their neighborhood. This is about transparency.”
Information contained in this article comes from a news release from Kane's office.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
