Waterbury Cancels Gun Show, Stamford Event Moving Forward As Planned
WATERBURY, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The police chief in a Connecticut city has halted permits for gun shows, saying he's concerned any firearms purchased there might one day be used in a mass shooting.
The Republican-American reports that Waterbury Police Superintendent Michael Gugliotti imposed a moratorium the day after the Dec. 14 killings of 20 children and six educators at a grade school not far away in Newtown.
He says he's concerned a gun used in a future mass shooting could be traced to a purchase made at a show in Waterbury.
Waterbury Cancels Gun Show, Stamford Event Moving Forward As Planned
Westchester Collectors Inc. had planned a firearm and knife show for Jan. 12 and 13. Show organizer Newman B. Chittenden says canceling the gun show will not improve security.
He says that vendors will turn away people who have mental health problems and that they use common sense when evaluating whether to sell.
Meanwhile, Westchester Collectors Inc. will hold a firearm expo scheduled for this weekend at the Crowne Plaza Hotel as planned.
Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia said the timing of the event is insensitive in the light of the mass shooting in Newtown -- which is just 30 miles from Stamford --and should be cancelled.
The gun show typically attracts high-end collectors and features antiques. Police said they have never had a problem with the event and the organizer always performs the required background checks, WCBS 880's Sean Adams reported.
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