Christine Witherill, a Connecticut Citizens Defense League executive and Air Force veteran, testified on gun policy after her cousin was killed by a jealous lover with a shotgun. She opposes Senate Bill 60, warning it could enable racial profiling of gun owners in urban areas, and supports bills allowing firearms in state parks and preventing cities from creating different gun rules.
All right. Good evening. My name is Christine Witherill. I'm an executive member of Connecticut Citizens Defense League. I serve the organization as the membership coordinator. I'm a veteran of the United States Air Force, as are both of my parents. I married a Marine, and 2 of my 5 children are currently in the Army. Excuse me, sorry, boys. I live in Ledyard, where I bought the first home ever in the history of my life. I submitted my testimony online, so I'm just gonna kind of speak on things that are a little more important to me. I want to start my testimony by stating that my heart goes out to the— to your family. I said that, um, and I also discussed, um, I also lost a family member, my, um, my cousin, who I was raised as Siblings were to the minute a month apart. We were. I lost him 2 and a half months before his 21st birthday. Um, he was killed by a jealous lover when he displayed disinterest on continuing a relationship after she informed him that she was pregnant. She went into her brother's gun safe, selected a 12-gauge shotgun, and when my cousin tried to call her bluff, she pulled the trigger. With that being said, so as I just, as I kind of referenced with Mr. Song, I was at a panel-style discussion, excuse me, on Thursday, and education was brought up as a deterrent to further loss of life. Both CCDL executive Don Basil, who's also spoken, and Mr. Song was present. Accident— the firearm accidents are most often due to lack of proper handling and lack of education, not proper storage, hence the lack of criminal charges sought against the gun owner. Education is the key in keeping our children safe. In addition to attempting— or excuse me, I also oppose SB 60, which which can lead to racial profiling. As a white woman in Ledyard, I can open carry. No one bats an eye. I go in Walmart, I can walk down the street, no one bats an eye. Fear this would not be a case of a man or a woman of color in a more urban area trying to just practice their Second Amendment rights. Also, I support SB 940. This bill would allow pistol permit holders to carry in state parks and forests. These guns— these gun-free zones are just imaginary boundaries that only disarm law-abiding citizens while doing nothing to stop criminals. I also support HB 5227, which is the municipalities making their own laws. This would ensure that all Connecticut residents would have equal rights regardless of what town they live in, regardless of demographics or political leaning of the representatives. Over to questions. Thank you. Questions for the committee? Seeing none, thanks so much for being with us.
