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Elizabeth Esty selected as one of 12 vice chairs for Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task ForceJan 04, 2013 (New Haven Register - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Freshman Fifth District Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty has been named as one of 12 vice chairs for the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. California Congressman Mike Thompson announced Esty's selection as one of the task force's vice chairs Friday. Esty's selection comes one day after she was sworn in as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Thompson said because Esty is the congressional representative to Newtown "where our nation recently witnessed one of the most horrific acts of gun violence in history, she will bring a unique voice to the table." "I look forward to working with her and other members of the task force to enact meaningful policies that will help make sure our nation no longer experiences the kind of gun violence we are mourning in Newtown," Thompson said in s written statement. Esty said because of the Newtown killings, she feels "a special responsibility" to take comprehensive action on the issue. "The status quo is unacceptable, and action is long overdue," Esty said in a written statement. "That means commonsense, federal gun-safety policies that work as well as making a firm and lasting commitment to mental health services." The congressional task force will spend the next month holding hearings and meeting with a variety of experts to address the best policies to reduce and prevent gun violence. It will release is policy recommendations in early February. Call Luther Turmelle at 203-789-5706. ___ (c)2013 the New Haven Register (New Haven, Conn.) Visit the New Haven Register (New Haven, Conn.) at www.nhregister.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |