Officials Emphasize Keeping Wilton Safe on Gun Violence Awareness Day

Wilton officials held a ceremony on the steps of Town Hall on Friday morning, June 7, to proclaim the day to be National Gun Violence Awareness Day.  Wearing clothing or ribbons in orange — a color symbolizing the value of human life — members of Wilton’s school, town and police communities came together to call out the seriousness of gun violence in the United States and reiterate that even in a safer town like Wilton, the issue is still a critical one to keep in the forefront.

Second Selectman Josh Cole stepped in to present the proclamation signed by First Selectman Toni Boucher and listed some of the more disheartening statistics. He noted that in 2022, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there were 48,204 individuals in the United States and 252 in Connecticut who died from gun-related injuries. Of those nationally, 26,993 were gun deaths by suicide — a 25% increase from 10 years before.

Both Cole and Wilton Police Chief Tom Conlan stressed that raising awareness around responsible gun ownership is a critical part keeping the public safe, and they hoped that the statistics as well as remembering those whose lives were cut short or were injured by gun violence would help save more lives.

Conlan pointed to Connecticut having “some of the strongest gun safety laws and… one of the lowest rates of gun violence in the country,” and cited the further steps state officials have taken since first expanding prohibitions on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines as well as background check requirements after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.

“Connecticut continues to be a leader in preventing gun violence, by recently enacting a number of gun safety policies including prohibiting open carry of firearms in public, strengthening its secure firearm storage law and improving laws regarding ‘ghost guns,'” something he said CT is a pioneer on.  

Such laws also keep his officers and the public, something said he’s grateful for.

“Banning the intentional display of firearms in public was of particular importance to law enforcement,” Conlan said. “This allows officers to avoid situations where the conspicuous display of a firearm could potentially create a dangerous situation for them as well as alarm for citizens.”

Conlan pointed out that new laws on responsible gun ownership — specifically securing firearms through a ‘no exceptions’ safe storage requirement — is critical not just because guns stolen from residential homes can end up in the hands of offenders, but such laws help reduce accidental shootings and suicide — something of particular note in Wilton.

“Although here in Wilton we have not seen many instances of illegal firearm crimes, we have unfortunately had instances where victims of suicide have used firearms that were available to them in the home. This new law will hopefully insure that unauthorized access to firearms is further limited,” Conlan said.  

The Chief also spoke in memory of Bristol police officers, Lt. Dustin DeMonte and Sgt. Alex Hamzy, who were victims of gun violence on Oct. 12, 2022. 

“They will not be forgotten,” he said.  

Wilton Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Smith focused much of his remarks on keeping children safe and prioritizing school safety.

“Schools, which should be places of safety and learning, have all too often become the sites of unspeakable [gun] violence. Just last year, there were over 100 incidents of gunfire on school grounds, resulting in dozens of fatalities and countless injuries. The toll this takes on our youth, on their sense of security and well-being, is immeasurable.”

Smith talked about continuing to invest in measures that will protect students and educators from the threat of gun violence in schools.

“Fostering a culture of connection and empathy, providing resources to support mental health and enacting comprehensive, safe school climate iniatives all serve to protect our young.  Nationally, we must also address the root causes of gun violence, including poverty, inequality, and the easy accessibility of firearms. We must continue to advocate for common-sense gun laws that will help keep guns out of the hands of those who would do harm to others,” he said.

All the officials encouraged residents to wear orange over the June 7-9 weekend as part of the effort.