I had the pleasure of introducing myself to Kos readers a few weeks ago, but, as a reminder, my name is Jason Paul and I am a Democratic Candidate for the state legislature in the 48th district of Connecticut. The 48th includes portions of Colchester, Lebanon, Mansfield and Windham. One major reason I entered this race was because our incumbent Democratic representative voted against the will of the voters and sided with the vocal minority against our state’s common sense gun measures. I am personally thrilled to see that a new organization has been launched to take on the fight for gun safety. Everytown for Gun Sense is on exactly the right path. In particular I was heartened to see the message about taking on the NRA and making people afraid of gun safety advocates. Everytown also did a great job of explaining why the NRA is pernicious, and of concisely outlining the damage guns do in America.
The race I am running is a perfect chance to beat the NRA. Our campaign has already outlined the degree to which our representative is in the pocket of the NRA.
What also needs saying is that we have a good chance to win and thus make a difference. Colchester, Connecticut is very much an every American sort of town. It is rural and conservative enough that a result here cannot be easily dismissed as it might be in more densely populated areas. It has a picturesque town green and sits just a touch to the left of the nation as a whole politically. Yet the new portion of the district includes enough liberals and Democrats that it is difficult for the Democrat to lose the general election. Our campaign has the clear advantage of the friendly confines of a Democratic primary. There are very few NRA supporters in a Democratic primary electorate, which will consist of somewhere between 1000 and 1500 voters. As a result of newly drawn district lines, roughly 40 percent of these primary voters have been represented by the incumbent for just a little more than two years. When I campaign by going to voters’ homes and knocking on their doors, it is clear that my opponent has not established herself in the new portion of the district. All of this means we have a decent chance at victory.
This campaign will be about more than just guns. We are also seeking to tackle the ethics issues that have plagued Connecticut since the reign of a governor who went to jail once, and now, out-of-office for 10 years, faces jail a second time. This campaign takes progressive stance on a host of key issues. But if this is going to be a campaign about guns and the NRA, I am more than happy to have that conversation. It is important to remember that not only is the NRA terrible on gun safety issues, but the group’s power asserted through bullying and fear bleeds over into other issues, such as who gets to be our surgeon general.
It is important that national progressives be heard on this and make sure that the NRA tastes defeat as quickly as possible. This campaign is applying for a Democracy For America endorsement as a means of showing progressive support. I have been in touch with local leadership, but if you all can go here to show that nationally people want to see the NRA punished, it would do a world of good. Thank you so much, I will hang around to answer questions.