MAYOR PEREZ TAKES ACTION

 TO GET ILLEGAL GUNS OFF OUR STREETS 

---NEWS RELEASE---

(April 16, 2007)---Hartford Mayor Eddie A. Perez is pushing for tougher and more responsible gun laws at every level of government, and that includes his proposal of a city ordinance that requires Hartford residents to report lost or stolen firearms within 72 hours.  The proposal will be discussed at tonight’s City Council meeting and at Tuesday’s Public Safety Committee Hearing--- both begin at 5:00 p.m.  Mayor Perez believes he has the full support of Council.  The ordinance would go into effect upon passage.

Mayor Perez says, “Serious crime is down 24-percent so far this year and the number of shooting incidents has been reduced by more than 37-percent.  Despite the progress of Neighborhood Policing, illegal guns continue to be a challenge for our city, state, and country.  While efforts are being made at the national and state levels to help reduce gun violence and stem the flow of illegal guns, Hartford can’t wait.  That is why I proposed an ordinance requiring residents to report lost or stolen guns with 72 hours.  This ordinance would also enable Corporation Counsel to sue anyone, anywhere, who failed to do so and that gun is used in a felony in our city.”

Mayor Perez goes on to say, “The people of Hartford spend millions of dollars fighting gun crime.  Statistics from the Hartford Police Department show that 93-percent of these guns come from out of town.  As I said in my State of the City Address last month and continue to say today, it is time the people who buy these guns are held accountable.”

Last year, the HPD got 500 illegal guns off the streets of Hartford.  The estimated cost of a firearms investigation can range anywhere from $165 to $3249.  These costs are based on an average of all salaries per regular time hours.  It also includes things like investigations, writing the report, property room tagging, and debriefing of detectives.

On the state level, Mayor Perez submitted testimony today regarding his support of three bills that require gun owners to report lost or stolen guns within 72 hours.  On the national level, Mayor Perez is an original member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns--- an effort by local leaders to find new and innovative ways to better track illegal guns and stop them from coming across state lines.