Newtown Tried Tightening Gun Rules Before Shooting

08:32

December 18, 2012

Representatives of The National Shooting Sports Foundation stand in their booth at the National Conference of State Legislatures in Chicago in August. From left, Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel; Jake McGuigan, NSSF director of government relations - state affairs; and Mike Bazinet, NSSF director of public affairs. (www.nssf.org) — Representatives of the Newtown-based National Shooting Sports Foundation stand in their booth at the National Conference of State Legislatures in Chicago in August. From left, Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel; Jake McGuigan, NSSF director of government relations - state affairs; and Mike Bazinet, NSSF director of public affairs. (www.nssf.org)

Newtown, Conn. Police Chief Michael Kehoe asked the town council this fall for new regulations to require that all shooting ranges and firearms used at those ranges be approved by the police.

Kehoe also wanted to limit hours when people could fire guns for recreational use.

H&N's full coverage of the Newtown shootings

The proposals were tabled because of fierce opposition, including opposition from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, one of the nation's most powerful pro-gun lobby groups, which has its home in Newtown.

New York Times: In Town at Ease With Its Firearms, Tightening Gun Rules Was Resisted
The New Republic: The Second Most Powerful Gun Lobby Is in Newtown, Connecticut

Guest:

Michael Moss, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter at The New York Times.

This segment aired on December 18, 2012.