Biden to talk gun policy at Danbury forum

Vice president Joe Biden and members of the Connecticut delegation will discuss the federal response to gun violence from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury.

National speakers will be Biden, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn.

State speakers will be Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, Newtown First Selectwoman Pat Llodra, Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton and Western Connecticut State University President James W. Schmotter.

The panel on gun violence will include state police Captain Dale Hourigan, Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra and the parents of Sandy Hook victim Grace McDonnell.

Mental health and school safety panelists will include Dr. George Sugai, director of the Center for Behavioral Education and Research at the University of Connecticut's Neag School of Education, and Dr. Steve Girelli, president and CEO of Klingberg Family Centers based in New Britain.

Attendance is by invitation only because space is limited, according to a press release. Registration begins at 8 a.m.