Heated testimony as committee weighs off‑duty firearms (HB5451) and school security hires (SB402)

Representative Steve Wear presented HB5451, saying current law can criminalize an off‑duty peace officer who lawfully carries a firearm while dropping children at school. "Good bill ought to pass," he told the committee, and asked the panel to remove language that would turn otherwise law‑abiding officers into criminals for carrying on school grounds when off duty.

Several members and witnesses pressed how the bill would be implemented and who would be covered. Representative Greg Howard and others disputed whether off‑duty officers would reliably retain tactical and de‑escalation skills when not working, and questioned whether allowing firearms in school spaces would make schools less safe overall. Representative Hall and others described local hiring practices and argued some districts have successfully integrated retired officers as part of a school’s fabric; opponents cautioned that the statutory term "peace officer" may be too broad.

Public testimony on related SB402—legislation about armed school security officers—was strongly contested. Robert Goodrich, executive director of Race, Inc., said research shows armed security in schools “does not deter but incentivize violent behavior,” and cited surveys and analyses (including FBI and Violence Project summaries) showing students—particularly Black and Hispanic students—report feeling less safe, and that armed personnel correlate with higher rates of certain incidents. "The mere presence of a weapon...increases aggressive thinking and violent behavior," Goodrich testified.

Joseph Sakolovic, vice chair of the Bridgeport Board of Education, said placing former federal law enforcement and armed officers within schools risks pushing immigrant families away from schools because schools hold addresses and other identifiable data. John Flanders of Special Education Equity for Kids urged that school security officers and SROs be explicitly excluded from student‑discipline roles, and asked for disability‑aware de‑escalation training for any personnel in or around schools.

Supporters of HB5451 included police unions and individual officers who said the change prevents accidental criminal exposure for officers performing routine family duties; Derek Piro (AFSCME Council 4 public safety legislative chair) said the bill would reduce stress for officers working multiple shifts. No final committee vote occurred; members asked for narrower drafting and clearer definitions of who would be covered and what training would be required.