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To the Editor:

“The Connecticut Citizens Defense League (CCDL) is a non-partisan, grassroots organization devoted to advocating rights affirmed by the Constitutions of the United States of America and the State of Connecticut. We are especially dedicated to protecting the unalienable right of all citizens to keep and bear arms, for the defense of both self and state, through public enlightenment and legislative action.”

This is the mission statement of the Connecticut Citizens Defense League. It is at the top of their webpage right below a large button calling for donations to their organization. Their first sentence of the mission statement says “non-partisan.”

Jonathan Hardy is an official with the CCDL and ostensibly entrusted to do his job with no bias to party or politics.  Sadly, this is not the case.

Recently, Hardy posted a horrible meme on his Facebook page depicting West Hartford resident and 18th District Rep. Jillian Gilchrest in an incredibly disrespectful manner. The meme is too offensive to post with this letter. It implies rape, racism, disrespects the governor with no regard for the legitimate issues, and overtly threatens Gilchrest. It has nothing to do with the second amendment (which I support) or gun rights in general, which is an issue CCDL works tirelessly on.

The fact that Jonathan Hardy posted this as, and is supposedly an unbiased official at CCDL, is extremely upsetting. He has abdicated his duties to be unbiased, made the CCDL look like the type of organization that flies in the face of their very own mission statement, and should be removed from his affiliation with the CCDL. He certainly did nothing to help advance their efforts for gun owners in the state.

This letter is a call-to-action for the removal of Hardy from his post at CCDL. I ask that everyone send a letter to or call Holly Sullivan who is the president of the CCDL and demand Hardy’s removal from their organization along with a statement disavowing his comments and actions! Holly’s email at CCDL is: [email protected].

All of us, regardless of party affiliation or opinion of the issues, should be frightened and outraged at this disgusting attack on Jillian (or any woman for that matter). It is a further fracturing of the foundation this country was built on and does nothing to work toward common objectives relating to the issues.

Thank you,

John Lyons
West Hartford