Poll: Connecticut Teachers Want Stricter Gun Laws
HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) - In the wake of the Newtown massacre, the Connecticut Education Association polled public school teachers about gun laws and the results were definitive.
The numbers leave no doubt that teachers are solidly in favor of stricter gun laws.
98 percent favor extending criminal and mental health background checks for all gun purchases.
Poll: Connecticut Teachers Want Stricter Gun Laws
88 percent support banning the sale and possession of military-style semi-automatic assault weapons to everyone except the police and military.
87 percent of teachers surveyed also support banning the sale and possession of high-capacity magazine clips.
85 percent oppose any proposals allowing teachers to carry guns in schools.
92 percent believe the state should provide funding to local public school districts to modernize facilities to address today's school safety issues.
Mark Waxenberg the executive director, said that given the delicate state of Connecticut's finances, teachers are being encouraged to lobby for these upgrades.
"We have our regional meetings with our teachers and basically asking our teachers to talk to their legislators in their district to make sure that they hear them personally," Waxenberg told WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau.
Gov. Dan Malloy has made it known that his proposed budget, to be outlined next week, will contain what he has said will be some tough cuts.
As for the numbers, even Waxenberg was astounded.
"The strength of how they felt about banning assault weapons, about banning the high capacity magazines," he said.
While there was a difference, the numbers were still definitive when taken just from members who are gun owners, have guns in their home, are hunters, or are related to hunters.
77 percent support stronger gun safety laws.
98 percent favor extending background checks.
83 percent favor banning high-capacity magazine clips.
78 percent favor banning the sale and possession of semi-automatic assault weapons.
77 percent are against plans to arm teachers.
20 students and 6 teachers and other staff members were killed when Adam Lanza opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
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