Middlefield Selectmen Scheduled to Vote on Gun Control Petition Tonight

Four months after the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities proposed 13 legislative initiatives aimed at reducing gun violence in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, Middlefield selectmen are expected to decide Tuesday night whether or not the town will keep its membership with the municipal lobby group.

Selectmen will consider a petition filed earlier this year by resident Peter Brown and signed by over 200 residents that calls on the town cut ties with CCM over what Brown has described as its "draconian" proposals.

At a public hearing on his petition on May 14 at the Middlefield Community Center, Brown told a crowd of about two dozen residents that he did not want his tax dollars being spent on a group lobbying for gun control.

"In my opinion, many lawmakers are trying to accomplish by the pen what no military power could do to us in time of war and that's to take away arms from all law abiding citizens," Brown said.

According to Brown, new gun control laws signed into law last month will unfairly punish responsible gun owners.

CCM Executive Director Jim Finley attended the meeting and said the proposals were the result of a "vigorous debate" involving more than 70 city and town leaders who make up about half of the group's membership.

"Certainly the intent of the CCM membership was not to whittle away constitutional rights. They're trying to figure out a way to get at the bad guys," Finley said.

Finley also spoke about many of the services that CCM provides member-towns, which includes research and analysis, lobbying efforts, training and health care benefits.

The Board of Selectmen will meet tonight at 7 p.m. at the community center.