I am deeply saddened by the recent tragedy in Newtown where adults and children, lulled into a false sense of security, created by the legislative fantasy that gun control laws actually prevent bad and evil people from doing harm, were murdered. I am also saddened that some people in power are obviously exploiting this tragedy for their own anti-gun agenda(s). On one level, I can understand this because, I too was once an anti-gun person. However, I have learned, over time, that my anti-gun feelings were the product of ignorance and naivety, rather than facts and analysis.

Over the past ten years or so, I have come to meet many, many people who are gun owners. I have attended numerous events involving firearms and even taught people how to safely use firearms. As a lawful gun owner and lawyer, I have had to review Connecticut's very stringent gun control laws for my own law-abiding purposes, as well as to assist clients. I have learned from my own first hand experiences. I have come to respect guns and to covet my right to be able to use one, of my own choosing, for self-defense.

None of the proposals currently before our state legislature would have prevented the Newtown tragedy. At some point in a civilized societies' existence, one must finally realize that you cannot prevent evil and mayhem through legislation. This is especially true when you allow your kids to play video games all day, the sole purpose of which is to heroically kill other people using any means possible. Leave the guns alone. Connecticut already has some of the harshest gun control laws in this country. Passing reactionary knee-jerk legislation just to say that you "did something" is not the mature and responsible way for legislators to respond this tragedy.