ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG PRAISES PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR FIREARM INDUSTRY BAD ACTORS

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement regarding passage in the Connecticut General Assembly of House Bill No. 7042, An Act Concerning Implementation of the Firearm Industry Responsibility Act, to strengthen accountability for bad actors in the firearm industry. The legislation now heads to the Governor for his signature.

The legislation would permit the Office of the Attorney General to bring civil enforcement actions against gun manufacturers, distributors, marketers and retailers who fail to implement reasonable controls to prevent the sale of firearms to straw purchasers, firearm traffickers, individuals prohibited from possessing firearms under state or federal law or individuals the firearm industry member has reasonable cause to believe intend to use it for a crime or to cause harm to themselves or others.  The bill also permits private citizens, or corporation counsels on behalf of municipalities, the right to bring suits for loss or injury as a result of a failure to implement those reasonable controls.

This bill would not impact responsible gun owners or responsible industry professionals.

“There is no legal immunity for reckless bad actors in the firearms industry who mislead and deceive or ignore our state’s strong gun safety laws. I am prepared to use the full weight of my civil enforcement authority to protect Connecticut families from gun violence. Connecticut has some of the strongest gun safety laws on the books in recognition of our state’s terrible history. This bill ensures Connecticut will continue to lead in keeping our communities safe,” said Attorney General Tong.

Attorney General Tong is part of a coalition of 16 attorneys general formed in 2024 to hold irresponsible firearms industry members accountable for their devastating impact on gun violence. This multistate coalition, the first of its kind, aims to reduce gun violence through the coordinated enforcement of state civil liability and consumer protection laws, among other authority, to promote public safety and saving lives.

The legislation is modeled after similar measures in coalition states, including California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Washington. Legal challenges to these laws have been uniformly upheld to date. In December 2024, both New Jersey and Minnesota sued Glock under their accountability statute for knowingly selling and manufacturing handguns that can be easily converted into machine guns.

The gun industry has enjoyed enormous exemptions from liability and accountability in court since the passage of the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which provides firearm industry defendants with broad immunity from many common law tort actions.  Congress carved out six exceptions to this immunity, pursuant to which firearms sellers may be held liable for third-party crimes committed with their products. This includes civil actions alleging that a manufacturer or seller of a firearm knowingly violated a state or federal statute applicable to the sale or marketing of the firearm, and the violation was a proximate cause of the harm for which relief is sought.

Here in Connecticut, the families of the victims of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School opened the door to holding the industry accountable for gun violence by suing Bushmaster for improper marketing and advertising of its firearms under PLCAA’s predicate exception.

Bridgeport Public Schools Expands Career Pathways at New Bassick High School

Bridgeport, CT — Bridgeport Public Schools is expanding its career and technical education offerings through new and strengthened partnerships at the all-new, state-of-the-art Bassick High School, set to open for the 2025–2026 school year. Located next to the University of Bridgeport, the redesigned campus will offer full-year, school-day programs in Carpentry and Culinary Arts, connecting students to high-demand career fields. 

Key partners include The Justice Education Center, Inc. (TJEC) and the Carpenters Union of Connecticut, led by President Ernest Pagan, a champion for workforce access in underserved communities. 

“Our goal is to give inner-city youth a path to the trades so they can participate in the redevelopment of their communities, earn fair wages and benefits, and one day retire with dignity,” said Pagan. 

Through TJEC’s Career Pathways Technology Collaborative, students will receive pre-apprenticeship credentialed training in carpentry and other trades, earning certifications such as OSHA 10, ServSafe, and CPR/First Aid. Programs focus on hands-on learning, contextualized academics, and career readiness. 

“This is about more than buildings—it’s about building futures,” said Dr. Royce Avery, Interim Superintendent of Bridgeport Public Schools. “We want every student to graduate with real options—whether college, career, or the trades.” 

Principal Joseph Raiola of Bassick High School emphasized the power of these partnerships: 

“The new Bassick is not just a beautiful building—it’s a symbol of what’s possible when schools, labor, and community come together. We’re giving students real skills, real certifications, and a real shot at success,” Raiola said. 

These initiatives reflect a broader commitment across Bridgeport Public Schools to expand access to sustainable career pathways, foster equity, and prepare students to lead in their communities. 

Norwalk Man Busted with Assault Weapons, Cocaine, and $20K in Drug Raid

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Norwalk Police arrested 34-year-old Melvin Colon after a months-long narcotics investigation centered on 265 Wilson Avenue. Following multiple community complaints, officers obtained four search warrants and five arrest warrants for Colon, targeting his apartment, two vehicles, and his person. He was taken into custody near his residence on June 2 and found with two baggies of suspected cocaine at the time of his arrest.

A search of Colon’s apartment uncovered a ghost gun, an assault pistol with high-capacity magazines, over 150 grams of suspected cocaine, drug packaging materials, and more than $20,000 in cash. Colon faces a total of 19 charges including narcotics sales, possession with intent to sell, illegal possession of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and operation of a drug factory. His total bond was set at $500,000.

Pedestrian Struck

Police UPDATE: At approximately 9:15pm, the Bridgeport Police Department responded to the intersection of East Main Street and Bass Pro Dr to report of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle. The vehicle fled the scene. The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital and is in stable condition. No further information at this time

Report of a pedestrian struck at 200 East Main Street, right off of I-95 Exit 28 North. No report on his condition at this time.

2025-30-05@9:17PM —#Bridgeport CT

New Rochelle Woman Busted in $3K Forged Money Order Scam at Westport Bank

Westport Police arrested 40-year-old Adele Wauchope of New Rochelle, NY, in connection with a bank fraud scheme that scammed Webster Bank out of approximately $3,000. The investigation began in March after a fraud investigator reported the deposit of altered U.S. Postal Money Orders into an account opened by Wauchope. Authorities say she made withdrawals after the forged deposits cleared. With the help of search warrants, surveillance footage, and inter-agency information sharing, Wauchope was identified as the suspect.

On May 22, Wauchope turned herself in to Westport Police and was charged with Larceny 3rd Degree, Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 3rd Degree, and Conspiracy to Commit Forgery 1st Degree. She was held on a $50,000 bond and transported to Stamford Superior Court for arraignment

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