Lessons from Melissa Murray
On Monday, the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee brought our community together at the First Congregational Church for a fascinating discussion of the Constitution. Moderated by former FBI agent Asha Rangappa, constitutional scholar, well-known New York University Law Professor and “Strict Scrutiny” podcast host Melissa Murray outlined the challenges facing our country and how understanding our foundational document is the ultimate defense against authoritarian overreach.
The event took place at a historic juncture as our democratic institutions are under extraordinary pressure. Murray’s new book, “The Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader,” is her latest effort to make this document accessible to everyone.
The civics crisis
An early and central theme is the widespread decline of civics education. Murray told the story of reading a Twitter thread by a popular rapper listing the things he thought President Joe Biden should be doing. Her realization that the president lacked the legal authority to do almost any of them provided the impetus to write the book.
In Murray’s telling, this is our current crisis in a nutshell: We have highly engaged voters who lack an understanding of what government can and cannot do. This paradox is costing our country dearly because if the public does not know or understand what the Constitution allows, it cannot effectively hold the government accountable.
A critical view of the Supreme Court
Another theme offered a sharp rebuke of the current Supreme Court majority’s reliance on “originalism.” Murray pointed out a significant flaw in their reasoning: By using “history and tradition” to roll back fundamental rights, the justices are acting as historians even though none of them are trained in that discipline.
She pointed out that by basing their decisions in what they assume to be the Framers’ thinking from almost 250 years ago, the Court has evaded consideration of modern democratic needs. At the same time, Murray noted that the conservative justices likely believe they are doing the right thing. This underscores one of her key insights: The Framers fully anticipated the rise of an unprincipled president. But they did not anticipate there would be no checks on that president’s power by the other branches.
The path forward: a more perfect union
Despite these vulnerabilities, the ultimate takeaway was one of hope. The Constitution is not a static document; revision by persistent, ordinary people is possible.
Murray illustrated this with a story about the 19th Amendment’s ratification. Tennessee’s deciding vote came from a young legislator who intended to vote against women’s suffrage, but changed his mind after a letter from his mother admonished him to “be a good boy” and do the right thing.
The Framers handed us a mechanism to continually work toward a more perfect union. For Democrats, as for others, that work continues in our neighborhoods, at our polling places, and in our daily efforts to defend and improve our government and our way of life.
Connecticut targets machine gun conversion devices
With Governor Ned Lamont’s signature last week, Connecticut became the fourth state in the nation to prohibit the sale of handguns that can be readily converted into fully automatic weapons through the use of an illegal conversion device, often known as a “switch.”
The legislation responds to the growing proliferation of these devices nationwide. According to federal data, the number of illegally converted firearms recovered by law enforcement increased by 784% between 2019 and 2023. When equipped with a switch, a handgun can fire as many as 20 rounds per second, dramatically increasing the potential for mass casualties and making law enforcement responses more dangerous.
Meskers and Arzeno vote for safer firearms design
Rather than restricting lawful gun ownership, the new law seeks to encourage safer firearm design. It holds manufacturers accountable for producing handguns that can be easily modified into machine guns, creating incentives for the industry to adopt designs that better prevent illegal conversions.
At the bill signing, Governor Lamont called the measure “a commonsense law that prioritizes public safety while respecting the rights of responsible gun owners.” He added that, in the absence of federal action, states have a responsibility to pursue policies aimed at reducing gun violence and improving public safety.
The legislation received support from Greenwich Democratic Representatives Steve Meskers and Hector Arzeno. Republican Senator Ryan Fazio and Representative Tina Courpas voted against the measure.
What we’re reading
As summer arrives, so does tick season—and experts warn that climate change is making the problem worse. A recent New York Times article explores how warmer temperatures, shorter winters, and shifting ecosystems are helping ticks expand into new areas and remain active for longer periods of the year. The result is a growing risk of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, particularly in the Northeast.
“There are more and different types of ticks around than there used to be, and I don’t see that stopping anytime soon,” said Marc Lame, an entomologist and clinical professor emeritus at Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs. The article is a useful reminder to take precautions when spending time outdoors this summer, including using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, and checking carefully for ticks after hikes, gardening, or yard work.
Action Calendar
June 19. Juneteenth.
Celebrate Freedom Day. Ceremony, proclamation and flag raising. 12 p.m-1 p.m. Greenwich Town Hall, 101 Field Point Road.
June 20. Volunteer.
Join the Ned Lamont and Jill Oberlander campaigns for a canvass kickoff and an afternoon of door knocking.12 p.m. RSVP for location.
June 20. Be wowed.
In honor of our nation’s 250th birthday, come see the Bible on which George Washington took his first oath of office. Greenwich Library Jewel Room, 101 W. Putnam Avenue. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
June 21. Honor dad.
| Volume 4, Number 51 • June 18, 2026 |
| Paid for by the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee. |
| Greenwich Democratic Town Committee P.O. Box 126 Greenwich, CT 06836 |