August 29, 2008

REP. GODFREY: PROPER STORAGE OF GUNS
ESSENTIAL FOR PROTECTING CHILDREN

State Representative Bob Godfrey (D-Danbury) today highlighted a state law making it a crime to not properly store firearms and urged gun owners to ensure their firearms are properly stored.

"The tragic event that occurred yesterday in Griswold highlights the extreme importance of storing firearms in a safe, secure place, completely out of the reach of children," Godfrey said.

Godfrey was one of the lead advocates of a law enacted in 1990 that makes it a Class D felony if a child is killed or injured by a gun that was not properly stored. The legislation came as a result of six children who died in the summer of 1989 because they got their hands on guns that were not properly stored.

"With the right to own guns comes the responsibility to keep those guns out of the hands of children," he said. "We must focus our efforts on stressing to everyone the importance of safe gun storage so that tragedies like this never occur again."

State Representative Bob Godfrey serves as Deputy House Speaker and represents the 110th General Assembly district of Danbury.