STAMFORD - Following a wave of bomb and violent threats made recently at schools across the state and throughout the country, area state lawmakers and a Sandy Hook family on February 25 spoke at the State Capitol in favor of making schools safer in Connecticut.JUDtestimony@cga.ct.gov. The name and hometown of the sender should also be included in the email. Copies may also be sent to Senator Hwang, at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.govhere to review the full bill text.

Sen Tony Hwang (R-28th) and Rep William Tong (D-147th) said that proposed Senate Bill 246, An Act Concerning the Zero-Tolerance Safe School Environment, would increase the penalties for when a threat involves a preschool, K-12 school or an institution of higher education.

The bill would make threats made against a school a class C felony that carries up to 10 years in prison. A similar bill last year secured the unanimous backing of the Senate but never came up for a vote in the House.

"These threats of violence against schools highlight the need to get tougher," said Sen Hwang, a co-sponsor of the legislation. "The threats have been made in Fairfield, Stamford, Newtown and across Connecticut. The devastating impact to the psyches of parents, educators and children in a school environment is absolutely, positively unacceptable.

"If someone does commit such a despicable act," Sen Hwang continued, "they should face severe penalties that bring the punishment more in line with the crime. The threats in Connecticut and around the country reinforce the need to strengthen our laws in this area."

Sandy Hook residents Bernard and Maureen Reidy urged passage of the proposal, noting that the state can "send a strong message that we will not tolerate threats of violence against our schools and that we're serious about protecting our children, teachers and administrators."

The bill receives a public hearing Wednesday, March 2, at 1 pm, at the Gen Re Auditorium, University of Connecticut, 1 University Place, Stamford.

Residents are invited to submit personal testimony via email for the public hearing. Testimony should be kept brief.

To testify via email, send email, with reference to Senate Bill 246 in the Subject line, to 

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