Politics

New Britain -- Everyone was polite. Even as they accused Gov. Dannel P. Malloy of ignoring the Second Amendment, of violating his oath, of wanting to put a local gun manufacturer out of business, of secretly wanting to confiscate their guns, they were polite.

Malloy came to New Britain High School for a community forum Thursday night prepared to talk about taxes and spending, his idea of eliminating the car tax, his attempt to change state funding formulas. But he stepped to the microphone knowing he might not get beyond guns.

A far-reaching package of gun-violence legislation in response to the Sandy Hook school massacre is widely seen as inevitable in the General Assembly, with legislative leaders saying Wednesday night their goal is a vote by the end of March with or without a bipartisan deal.

In separate interviews, Democratic and Republican leaders said they are progressing toward bipartisan legislation addressing gun, school security and mental health issues arising from the murders of 26 children and women at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

Buoyed by his crisis leadership, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy won a 48 percent to 39 percent job approval rating in a Quinnipiac University poll released today, his highest mark since becoming governor in January 2011.

Malloy, 57, the first Democratic governor in 20 years, still faces considerable political challenges as he looks to re-election in 2014, and today's poll offers more encouragement than discouragement to Republican challengers.