HARTFORD — Governor Dannel P. Malloy attended the final meeting of his Sandy Hook Advisory Commission (SHAC) Friday, February 6. Convening briefly, the panel released its final report providing analysis and recommendations after one of the country's worst school shootings.

Members also vowed to reconvene next year for a progress check. 

The 40-minute gathering provided an opportunity for many commissioners to thank the governor for their appointments, with most reflecting briefly on their experiences. Several also articulated calls to action utilizing recommendations set forth in the report.

Those recommendations include addressing and improving school safety, emergency response, post-incident follow-up, gun safety and mental health policies.

Hamden Mayor and Commission Chairman Scott Jackson opened by requesting a moment of silence and reflection honoring those lost on 12/14.

Settling in to the brief agenda, Mayor Jackson began by recalling his own appointment to lead the panel - telling the Governor he had a hard time conceiving what a final report on the mass shooting would look like.

“I knew these recommendations had to be accessible to a wide audience,” Mayor Jackson said, “and they needed to matter.”

Pointing out that since 12/14, there has been an average of one school shooting every week, the panel chairman said, “We can do something different — we can do something better.”

Former Newtown State Representative Chris Lyddy used his opportunity at the microphone to challenge every person who might play a role in improving school safety and addressing mental health or gun issues to read the report.

He then called on them to “determine which recommendations they can get behind — then get behind them.

“We have to start thinking much differently,” Mr Lyddy said, "and boldly."

Former security expert Robert Ducibella said the report provides guidelines to engage in prevention versus consequence management, pointing out that post-incident reports from Columbine, Colo., and the Virginia Tech shootings only recounted the events, while the Sandy Hook report comes with recommendations.

Panel Vice Chair Terry Edelstein made a point to recognize and thank the entire community of Newtown, and those who chose to share information or ideas with members of the panel either formally or informally.

Former Hartford Police Chief Bernard R. Sullivan implored anyone reading the report, or engaging themselves over the panel's recommendations, to think about the “little angels” lost on 12/14, and “all the things in life they will never have an opportunity” to experience.

“Think of them and understand why we made the recommendations that we did,” he said.

Dr Alice Forrester acknowledged that while money is tight, when weighing the value of implementation, “paying for the consequence is so much more costly than paying for the recommendations.”

Dr Harold Schwartz said for each commissioner, developing the final report “redefined our sense of purpose,” and that upon its release, “our thoughts are first and foremost with the people of Newtown.”

Norwalk Fire Chief Denis McCarthy also spoke of the survivors, saying, “My hope is, as this report is digested, that we summon a fraction of the courage of the parents and the families of Newtown,” who provided input to the commission.

Gov Malloy opened his remarks thanking Mayor Jackson for his service. He then recalled meeting with many of the surviving families as President Barack Obama arrived in Newtown for a December 16 memorial service at Newtown High School.

It was the first time he had seen them since informing them of the deaths of their children and family members two days earlier, he said, and he was heartened by how gracious they all were.

He mentioned how many expressed their appreciation for law enforcement officers who were assigned to protect them and assist them in the days following the shootings. Gov Malloy said many of those officers who met him afterward said it was “the most meaningful experience of their careers.”

He recognized the Sandy Hook teachers who remained in service after the incident, noting that “their service is quite remarkable.”

The governor noted the 52 findings regarding improving metal health response and support, and thanked commissioners for a report that would be reviewed far beyond Connecticut. He also admitted that despite difficult financial times, “we have to do more, and I'm confident Connecticut will rise to the occasion.”

In closing, the governor said that the report can change and save lives.

“This [report] is about the future,” he said.

In calling for adjournment, Mayor Jackson committed to reconvening as many members of the panel as possible in one year, to monitor progress on the commission's outcomes, and to “determine how to move [recommendations] forward.”

Upon the conclusion of the meeting, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, and Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (D-5) issued the following statement:

“We commend the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission for their diligent and dedicated service in the name of the 26 beautiful children and courageous educators whose lives were tragically and horrifically taken at Sandy Hook Elementary School over two years ago. This report should be required reading for every member of Congress as a concise and compelling road map to the commonsense public safety and mental health measures the vast majority of Americans need and demand. Connecticut has already led the way in adopting strong, courageous bipartisan gun violence legislation, and now it is time for Congress to follow,” Blumenthal, Murphy and Esty said.