West Hartford resident State Sen. Beth Bye is one of several state legislators chosen to attend President Obama’s news conference regarding background checks for gun buyers.

State Sen. Beth Bye (We-Ha.com file photo)

By Ronni Newton

President Barack Obama will make an announcement at 11:40 a.m. Tuesday morning unveiling his intent to use executive action to require small-scale gun sellers to order background checks on prospective buyers and to tighten laws on selling guns to those who have committed domestic abuse, and West Hartford resident and State Sen. Beth Bye (D-5th), who has been one of Connecticut’s leading proponents on gun safety, will be in attendance.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty will also be in attendance at the White House announcement according to news releases from their offices.

“It is important that the nationwide standard for buying and selling firearms is the same: everyone has to be legally and mentally qualified to purchase and possess a firearm, and background checks have to be mandatory for every firearms purchase in America, no matter how many or how few firearms you sell,” State Sen. Bye said in a prepared statement.

According to Bye’s office, an October 2015 poll by Pew Research found that 86 percent of Americans support universal background checks for firearms purchases. Twelve percent oppose them according to the poll.

“A vocal minority that is out-of-step with the public safety concerns of a vast majority of Americans cannot be allowed to dictate this national debate and continue to endanger our families and our communities,” Sen. Bye said. “I stand with President Obama today in calling for more stringent regulations on small-scale gun sellers and in calling on Congress to pass the universal firearms background checks that Americans demand and deserve.”

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford!