Biden, cabinet official to speak at WCSU

Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will join members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation and others this morning at Western Connecticut State University to discuss actions to reduce gun violence in America’s cities and towns.

The symposium, which was set to include several panels that would feature elected officials, public safety officials, mental health professionals and educators, among others, was organized by Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy and Rep. Elizabeth Esty, who represents the state’s 5th congressional district.

Biden, Duncan and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy were also scheduled to speak at the event.

In opening remarks, Blumenthal said, “Today is a summit of hope. As despairing … as many were in the wake of that tragedy, today we have hope, and as the president said, this time is different.”

Murphy said that while it is important for the state legislature to enact tighter gun controls, any push for legislative change must originate at the federal level.

“We”™ve done a lot of talking here in Connecticut about state law changes … (but) the most critical changes are at the national level,” Murphy said.