Sal Simsek Takes Aim at CT Democrats, Gun Laws & Hidden Taxes

追加: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]Are you for any more restrictions on gun ownership in Connecticut? We have maxed out on [snorts] gun regulations. Okay.

[00:00:08]>> In fact, it should be eased up. Okay.

[00:00:10]And right now, the gun regulations are putting uh making legal gun owners criminals Mhm. instead of they are focusing on punishing criminals.

[00:00:34]Welcome to the Lock and Load podcast. My name is Josh. And I'm Michelle.

[00:00:37]>> And we're talking to you about Connecticut 2A issues. So, today we are joined with our special guest Simsek. Did I say that correctly?

[00:00:45]>> Okay, didn't mess that up.

[00:00:47]Um who is running for the 26th state rep district in New Britain. So, Sal, why don't you give us a little bio about yourself and then we'll uh just have a conversation.

[00:00:57]If I can as you said, I am running for the 26th from Republican Party.

[00:01:03]And you know, like my town is New Britain and I have been a resident of New Britain for 25 years. Oh, wow. And you know, in fact, I am not a career politician. I am a business executive over the years.

[00:01:18]Mhm. And I have done lots you know, like lots of you I have taken lots of responsibilities in different companies.

[00:01:25]And you know, like I know what fiscally responsible means.

[00:01:30]Yeah, being in a business. Yeah.

[00:01:33]A partial requirement if the business still operates, yeah? Definitely.

[00:01:36]>> Also, I am the president for Hartford chapter of Connecticut Republican Assembly. It is Hartford County in fact.

[00:01:44]And I am you know, like I said when I saw that there were only 61 candidates running for state representative, I said, "Hey, it is time to put my hand under the stone, take responsibility, and go forward."

[00:02:06]Because I have spent most of my time in this state, and I am not a person who is going to pack up and leave.

[00:02:19]Good. I am going to fight. Yes, that's awesome. That's not what we hear enough of. Yes, I am going to fight. And you know what? Sometimes it is not about winning or losing. It is the fight that counts. Correct.

[00:02:33]>> And for my opponent, Dave Defronzo, perhaps you are going to say Dave who?

[00:02:38]Because nobody heard about him much except for voting for the party lines. I am coming, and he will have a political fight that he will never forget. Dave, I am coming. That is awesome. How have you How is your response because you're from New Britain? Yes. Okay, so it's a it's a city. How has the response been to having a Republican candidate running in the city?

[00:03:02]In fact, in the last elections, you know, Republicans were at 40%, Democrats were at 50%.

[00:03:09]Only 5% switch can change everything.

[00:03:13]Correct.

[00:03:13]>> And things can change because right now people are suffering, especially financially.

[00:03:20]And, you know, like and they want to have hope. Mhm.

[00:03:24]>> And they need a change because that seat has been held by a Democrat for a long time.

[00:03:31]Yeah, the guy the guy before the guy that has it right now, 2003 is what I just said.

[00:03:37]But that's And I don't know how far back before that. I didn't go that far, guys.

[00:03:40]Um I just did a quick little research before we dived in.

[00:03:43]Okay. If New Britain residents want to have a change, vote for me. I am coming. I will represent you. That is awesome. That is awesome. So, one thing we ask our political candidates and we've We're getting more and more on here. We are.

[00:04:01]Um we've got a we've got a few more lined up and that's kind of the other thing is like viewers, we want to get your horizons broadened. We want to, you know, get people in front of the camera, right? Um so you can learn about them.

[00:04:16]Well, yeah, if they can't go to a meet and greet, at least they can tune into a podcast while they're driving and hear what that candidate has to say. So, that's the idea with this.

[00:04:24]>> Well, hopefully they're just listening when they're driving, not watching us on their screen. [laughter] Oh, my god.

[00:04:29]>> bad. But, that's why we're on Spotify.

[00:04:31]So. Yes.

[00:04:32]>> Um anyways, why is now the right time to run?

[00:04:35]That's the question we kind of start off with most candidates. So, why now? Why not? Okay.

[00:04:41]>> Fair enough. This is exactly, you know, like why not? I am running and I want to win.

[00:04:47]And I will do what whatever it is necessary to win it. Okay.

[00:04:51]>> And I see the people.

[00:04:53]People are suffering.

[00:04:55]And they need a change. And I believe that I can bring that change for them.

[00:05:01]And represent them. Because it is sadly that people are being ruled, not represented. And right now, I want to represent the people. I come amongst them.

[00:05:15]I listen to them over the years and I will do my best to help them out and represent them. That's awesome. So, have you done anything in politics, elected or appointed or anything like or helped campaigns or anything like that before all of this? I know you said you were the chapter president of the Hartford County. Hartford County Yes.

[00:05:39]>> Republicans, okay. But, anything like maybe [clears throat] like New Britain Council or like a subcommittee or something? I was more active on the federal site than the state side. And I have been uh I belong to the organization called American Middle School Coalition for democracy.

[00:05:56]And I directly work with Professor Walid Phares and Ken Timmerman. Perhaps you know them. You know, they are always at Newsmax and Fox TV. And you know, like they act you know, like served as the you know, advisor to the president. And I work with them. I hold monthly meetings and you know, like I focus on these things on you know, like and I can understand what is going on in DC and what they are doing. And you know, right now what I am not seeing in the Connecticut politicians is their number one job is go to DC and take back as much money as possible that we already gave them as taxes and bring it to Connecticut and use it for the people. Okay. What made you decide to run on a state level versus like for a congress seat or something like that?

[00:06:53]If we don't take care of the home how can we take care of the neighborhood? Yes. Okay. I like that.

[00:07:00]>> answer. Yeah, I love that answer. That's awesome. That is the answer.

[00:07:05]>> [laughter] >> That's a good answer.

[00:07:08]Um sometimes we get impressed by answers. I mean we interviewed Ryan Fazio a couple maybe a couple months ago now. He um I can't remember off the top of my head, but it was some question we asked and it was some answer and I just imagined like bald eagles and like American flag [laughter] in the background. I said that during the podcast and I was like that was a good answer, man. Like that was a good it was a short but good answer. In fact, I will tell you something, too. My wife is Polish-American and she's one of the Frankowskis.

[00:07:36]Okay.

[00:07:37]>> And Polish >> New Britain making sense now.

[00:07:40]>> And, know, like and she knew how to live under communist and socialist.

[00:07:48]And she gives me the biggest support and encouragement to run for the office.

[00:07:54]That's important because you need the support from home cuz this is not easy.

[00:07:59]And you're What's your background? I am originally Turkish American, you know.

[00:08:05]And I have come here back in 1999.

[00:08:09]And I finished my MBA at University of Hartford. Okay. Then after that, you know, like I started working and my company sponsored me for my green card.

[00:08:22]Okay. Then I became a US citizen citizen.

[00:08:25]Then I met with my wife and we got married and we are happily married for more than 15 years now.

[00:08:34]Congratulations. Thank you.

[00:08:35]Congratulations. That's awesome. Yeah.

[00:08:37]That is awesome. Do you have children?

[00:08:40]Unfortunately God didn't gave us children. We wanted a lot, but it was unfortunate, but we have two doggie daughters. One of them is a yellow lab, fully certified, and the other one is a chocolate lab mixed with a pointer. And they are handful. A lab, yeah. Yeah, labs can be very energetic.

[00:08:58]>> You know the good part?

[00:09:00]We take them for a walk every day and it is about 3 miles.

[00:09:06]And you know, we start from our home and we take the A.W. Stanley Park.

[00:09:13]I want to thank all you know, previous mayor, you know, like Timothy Stewart for building that, you know, like park, you know, like around the lake there. Mhm. And it is gorgeous.

[00:09:28]His daughter, you know, like Erin, of course, renovated it. It is gorgeous.

[00:09:33]And that's our favorite spot to take them for the walk on a daily basis.

[00:09:38]Well, that's good for you, too, cuz you're out in public. You get to talk to people, too. So, it's a You're doing, you know, and you're getting your exercise and everything else. That's great. That is great.

[00:09:48]Awesome. So, we are a 2A podcast. So, what your stance on the Second Amendment?

[00:09:54]>> Ah.

[00:09:55]I am.

[00:09:57]It's something that cannot be negotiated, okay? I fully support Second Amendment and I also fully support for Connecticut Constitution first article section 15. And I am a legal gun owner for a long time.

[00:10:13]And it's my hobby.

[00:10:15]And you know what? You can find me at Blue Trails all the weekends, even in the wintertime, >> [laughter] >> with a hot cup of Joe outside. Yeah. And staying 6 hours.

[00:10:27]>> [laughter] >> There you go. It's a long time. That's cold. But, yeah, you got to train year-round if you're really going to do it.

[00:10:33]>> You start with the rifles and you want to switch to the pistols. You know, like what time passes by. You know, what is the problem? Have you ever shot trap?

[00:10:42]I shot traps, you know, like for the shotguns. I think that will be the future if we have a drone attack, everybody needs to learn how to shoot with a shoot with the shotgun. That's what Dave McNeely is preparing for, the drone attack.

[00:10:57]I'll bring that up to Dave one day.

[00:10:59]Nice. You know what? One of the best one is Mossberg 990.

[00:11:03]Yep. Oh, it is perfect for competitions and you know, John Wick style and you know, like it's great.

[00:11:13]That's great. So, so if you got elected in, Yeah.

[00:11:18]you I mean, depending on what the bill came up. Obviously, if it's a good bill that's going to do something actually do something, then it might be worth looking at. But, for the most part, are you for any more restrictions on gun ownership in Connecticut?

[00:11:33]Right now, we are maxed out on gun regulations. In fact, it should be eased up. And right now, the gun regulations are putting or making legal gun owners criminals instead of they are focusing on punishing criminals. Correct. I mean, I've talked to several law enforcement because I figured they're the ones to talk to. They're the ones arresting or, you know, looking into these cases. And everyone everyone that I've talked to, they're not catching legal guns. It's not legal gun ownership that that's out on the road causing the problems, you know? And I'm like, "Okay." And I to me it baffles me because if I was up in Hartford and I was trying to make these bills to make us safer, my first question would be talking to police departments saying, "What do you think? Will this make us safer?" And they don't. They don't care. You think I did my I believe in numbers and statistics, okay?

[00:12:33]Right now, for the gun crimes, our country is ranked as fourth place in the world. Mhm. Out of 192 countries.

[00:12:43]However, when you take out high crime crime cities like Chicago, Michigan, Los Angeles, and others, five of them out, do you know our ranking?

[00:12:56]I'd say bottom 20.

[00:12:59]Look 89.

[00:13:01]Wow. This means that gun regulations doesn't won't stop crimes. Well, criminals don't Criminal by definition means somebody who doesn't follow the law. I mean, most people that watch our podcast and like that are following or subscribed to us probably understand that, right? Like Chicago, guns are illegal, murder capital of the United States with firearms. Like obviously gun control does not work well for them, Uh nor does it work here because every day you can be scrolling on Facebook and see Waterbury, New Britain, New Haven, Meriden, our main cities, Bridgeport, with so-and-so was arrested with a stolen with stolen gun with an obliterated serial number.

[00:13:47]>> Taurus G3C Good old Tauruses. [laughter] And like, they don't prosecute these people. I mean I mean they do prosecute them to an aspect, but they drop the gun charges or what they do is they'll sentence them and then it's all done in 2 years, but they've already been in jail for a year and a half, so they're out, right?

[00:14:08]>> Um And that's a problem, right? That's something that a lot of people preach at the capital when they go up and testify is that prosecute the laws on the books before you throw more crap on the fire, right?

[00:14:20]I 100% and in fact, they should be tied with the public safety. How is it tied with the public safety? Number one, get rid of the blight properties.

[00:14:33]Left properties, you know, like basically >> See the buildings Yeah, run-down stuff, yeah. Yeah, run-down stuff stuff needs to be taken care of. Number two, what do criminals hate the most?

[00:14:46]Lights. Make sure that every street is lighted with a street lights. And you know, like done. Number three, for the important busy areas, put cameras.

[00:15:00]I know people say privacy, but in the meantime certain things needs to be done.

[00:15:05]By this way, public safety gets better, you know?

[00:15:09]And don't try to make legal people criminals. Just focus on the criminals and try to get rid of it.

[00:15:19]And most important thing is mental institutions.

[00:15:23]What what did we do? We closed mental institutions and let people on the streets. And we prescribed psychotic drugs left and right to make them numb.

[00:15:35]But when they stop using them, they lose it.

[00:15:39]>> Agreed. Yeah, basically these are the things needs to be focused on. And hey, work with the federal government, try to get some federal government grants and funds to reinstitute mental institutions and also help these people. They are suffering, too. They are suffering from mental illness. Help them to get better.

[00:16:01]And you know, these are needs to be focused on. And of course, last but the least, family. Keep the family strong.

[00:16:11]And children from their parents, as they say, children are the mirrors of their parents.

[00:16:19]And >> time.

[00:16:20]>> Basically, they are.

[00:16:21]>> So, talking about parents and family though, and we need to teach them that leads me into and again, this isn't a 2A issue. This leads into school systems and the curriculums.

[00:16:32]Do you think that we've gone cuz I know as a parent, when my daughter was in school, she was actually told, "Don't talk to your parents about certain things because they don't understand." Like certain curriculums and certain things would come in. And I think that was wrong. And I lost my mind, by the way.

[00:16:49]It was the only reason I lost my It was because the teachers say, "Oh, you can't ask your parents that. They she won't they won't understand." I'm like, helping her with homework and she goes, "I can't talk to you about it. The teacher says I can't." And I'm like, you know, and then the other cockamamie stuff that she'd come home with the ideas of what needs to be done and how.

[00:17:05]That breaks down to the legislators in our government currently.

[00:17:09]>> Correct.

[00:17:09]>> They think they're the parents. They're not.

[00:17:13]Correct. That's why I was asking him on that because it makes sense. If if that's how you feel, would you be interested in revisiting what this state is teaching our children? In fact, everybody sees that, but government became fathers.

[00:17:30]No, it is reality.

[00:17:33]And you know, like we should see, you know, like why the marriages are breaking up. What are the issues? How can we reinstitute the marriages in a way that it is mutually respected and each person understand each couple, you know, they understand each other and fight for their marriage, you know?

[00:17:55]>> Cuz that's got taught from from being little. Yes. You have to teach them respect. You have to teach them to to not fight, meaning fight fight, but fight for what you want. And when something goes bad, you don't run. You have to sometimes It doesn't mean you have to always stay cuz sometimes it's not worth staying. But for the most part, people today they get in an argument and they're like, "Ugh." And [clears throat] they're done. No, just fight for it, you know? Like fight >> a choice. I always bring up the and I People bring up divorce all the time.

[00:18:25]Right? And like my wife and I have never said that and will never say that. That's just It's just not an option. Right? It's And that's a conversation you can have with your partner before they're officially your partner. Yes. And I think that is important and a lot of people don't do that. And obviously like there are situations, right? And And we can go down a whole rabbit hole of that. But even when you do that, you still have to stay strong for any children you have.

[00:18:53]>> Yeah. And that's a huge issue.

[00:18:54]>> That's hard.

[00:18:55]You get, you know, I I won't We'll call him Bob, a childhood friend. And two families, right? His mom in his mom's house and his dad in his dad's house. And it's like they were competing for his like love and affection. And I'm like, that is horrible. Like That raises him to not understand what a healthy relationship is because you can even be divorced and if you treat your if your child is first, you can show them what it is to work together to be there and raise and that gives you that foundation. Yeah, I agree >> have foundations today with a lot of people and a lot of people it's just it's it's a breakdown of the family unit. I think >> to like the whole nuclear family thing and I'm going to connect this back into parenting here with the schools is that you have that breakdown and then they put the pressure on the schools to do the problem which is the pressure on the taxpayers.

[00:19:45]And like the schools have them for six to seven hours. You have them the rest of the time and the weekends. Like you need to be the parent and not just give people kids iPads. Yep. Drives me up a wall. A child will never have an iPad except for certain specific things.

[00:20:01]Maybe like an plane. Like an air I like like we're traveling. Okay, I could see that, right? To watch like a a show or something. Like I not not a chance that that iPad is going to be there for games and I have friends that have kids that and I'm like What are you doing? And again, you know, any of you guys out there if you you know, if you're using iPads with your kids, we're not saying you know, no.

[00:20:27]>> personal opinion.

[00:20:27]>> These yeah, these are our opinions.

[00:20:28]>> Whether it was Sal or Michelle, that's just Joshua's opinion. You're here listening to us have a conversation.

[00:20:35]>> parents. That's the thing. Stop putting it on the taxpayers. There we're connecting it back. Yes. Because we're not on the taxpayers and like we're we're right now so on Southington Town Council. We didn't really talk beforehand.

[00:20:44]Um >> [laughter] >> so on Southington Town Council, so unlike New Britain where you had a mayor, we have a manager. So we hire and appoint the manager and he reports to the council. Where you guys in New Britain have a mayor that you elect / hire, too. And then you still have your council that does stuff. So we're a little more council focused I thought you guys had a mayor.

[00:21:05]Um thank for the charter does not have that. Okay. Uh, but there's nine of us on the council and one hired town manager who reports just to us.

[00:21:14]Um, and then all the other departments, obviously, report to him. You have the whole hierarchy and everything.

[00:21:20]Um, so it's budget season right now and it's it's been really budget season since I got elected, apparently. Um, well, I had to learn, right? This is the first time I ran for anything and I got elected.

[00:21:30]>> It's tax time. It's the best time of the year.

[00:21:32]>> well, Board of Ed has to get theirs in, so I'm going to their workshops and I had to learn all this stuff. And I'm learning how much resources are spent in our school system on things that parents probably could have helped with if they parented.

[00:21:50]In 2026 here, you know?

[00:21:53]Again, Joshua's opinion, not Sal's, not Michelle's. I will tell something Joshua on that one. Number one, men need to stand up because, you know, like woman work, too. Man work, you know, together. Husbands and wives work and women need more help in the house and men needs to be understanding that and help their spouses, you know? And secondly, take your children for outdoor activities. Don't let them on the computers or the TVs. Like Let them play. Let them play. Like, [laughter] hey, make them a hobby. Go as an example, go trekking. Go teach them archery.

[00:22:33]Teach them you know, take them to the range.

[00:22:35]>> Go find something. Go play in the dirt.

[00:22:36]Yeah. I went outside and played. Go play. But see, that comes back to a lot of our government, you know, and I hear it even in family. They say, well, you driver's licenses. Yeah. They're like, well, the government should change it and make it so you can't get driver's license till you're 18 or 21. And I was like, why? And they said, well, because they're not responsible enough. I said, "It that's your job."

[00:22:56]If your child's not responsible, don't give them a car. Yeah. Don't let them get a license. Like, that's your job as a parent. The government doesn't need to do that.

[00:23:03]>> No.

[00:23:04]Also, there's one more thing about Board of Education that Josh mentioned, okay?

[00:23:11]Why do our property taxes, real estate taxes going up? Why are they always going up? I will tell you one example.

[00:23:21]State of Connecticut capped Board of Education expenses at 1 billion since 2013. 13.

[00:23:30]Basically, it didn't increase by cost of living. It didn't increase by inflation.

[00:23:37]And cities and towns expenses increased.

[00:23:40]In order to make up the difference, they had to increase the taxes. Well, they also cut funding to certain towns. Oh, yeah.

[00:23:51]>> If you don't vote correctly. Yeah, that's So, some of the towns got hit harder. Somebody brought up the numbers the other day. Again, we're in budget season here, and certainly we'll see when it comes out or not or when it comes out. Um I think it'll be out before Southington's done doing their budget.

[00:24:08]Um but it's like 60 I think it's like 64% is just Board of Ed. Yeah. Yeah. Which is I'm in Beacon Falls.

[00:24:17]And I'm in a tiny little town, and we're a region, so it's two small towns, and our budget for education, I believe is over a mill. It's That's Ooh, a million dollars.

[00:24:28]>> But just That's just And now we're going to put solar on our so, you know, jump that price up some more.

[00:24:36]You have to get a better solar person. I also didn't agree with the new AstroTurf on the football field so we can compete with everybody, but, you know, grass was good for me. Yeah, you got to compete with Southington, sorry. They like apparently they like our football field.

[00:24:49]In fact, it is proven that you know, spending more money on education is not always the solution. It is about to what kind of, you know, like policies you have and what you implement.

[00:25:03]Best example, New Hampshire.

[00:25:06]They spend much less than we do on education and their school system is better. Why?

[00:25:12]They're more involved. Yes, and also there's one more thing. How our spending is out of control.

[00:25:19]I will tell one more thing, North Carolina.

[00:25:23]Their population is three times as us and we spend same money.

[00:25:29]Wow.

[00:25:31]It is just an example. Basically, we overspend in this state and we need some fiscal responsibility. Well, according to Rob Sampson, wasn't it like, I don't know, 10 years ago, maybe a little bit longer, we only had like 100,000 people on state assistance and now we have over 350,000.

[00:25:50]>> have a third of the state on state That's a million plus people on state assistance. So, those numbers just because of the astronomical prices, it's put people on assistance. Now, assistance is not >> sort of assistance. Not necessarily like they're getting money every month. It's some sort of program they're using.

[00:26:07]Still, a third of the population >> No, it's the fact that a third of this state needs to have assistance and that there's somehow money in the coffers to pay for the assistance, but they can't drop the price so everybody just pays their own. I can't figure that one out.

[00:26:26]That's just a me thing. Public benefit charges. In fact, I'm going to come to that one. Good.

[00:26:31]>> Public benefit charges?

[00:26:35]State is overspending and they are coming new creative ways of charging people without increasing state income tax. They want to create hidden taxes similar to public benefit charges and everybody is paying much more. And number two, they want to put speed cameras on the highways and charge charge people for the first time 75 after that $200 each. But the problem with that is you're not necessarily charging the right person. Oh, yeah. If someone borrows your If I borrow your car, you're getting the ticket.

[00:27:15]>> Yeah, so this is happening in Middletown actually.

[00:27:17]Um, and that's where our pediatrician is. So, we know where the camera is.

[00:27:22]Like, normally my wife's car, uh, we have a Jeep Wagoneer, and that's like what we bring the baby in because my Dodge Challenger is not a baby car. And my truck has like a lift on it. So, we're normally taking her car and she normally drives. And I'm always like, "Hey, speed camera." cuz we know where it is on the way back. And I flip it off every time.

[00:27:40]It just makes you feel a little bit better inside. Well, it just if you're doing it up on the highway that I don't the town one Put a cop there. I've always said this. If you have a speeding problem, put a cop there. We don't have enough officers. Put a cop there. I have a question. Don't we have a requirement for due diligence?

[00:27:58]People speed all the time, right? I You drove here from New Britain today. Yeah.

[00:28:02]Did you take 72 to 9 to 72 or probably 72 to 84, right?

[00:28:07]>> Yes. I'm sure you did 55 the entire way.

[00:28:11]Sure. He's going to say yes.

[00:28:12]>> [laughter] >> He's going to say, "I'm on camera. Yes, I did."

[00:28:16]Yes, I did.

[00:28:18]I just have like beacon poles just put cameras up. The only reason I can say, "Okay, I'll live with it." is because the money from that goes directly into my town.

[00:28:29]Okay.

[00:28:30]>> cameras up? Yeah. In one spot. Just one spot in town. So, it's the main drag.

[00:28:34]So, and I'm not, you know, it is what it is.

[00:28:37]It's It's but the money stays within town. These ones on the highway are going to go to the federal funds or the state funds. That goes into the general fund of state, it's not going to come back and help fix our roads. It's not going to come back and do the things it needs to do, and that is the responsibility of those that get elected into office. Well, let's let's go with guns here, right? If we wanted to like actually fix problem with gun crime, take the sales tax from gun stores and put that to I don't know, this magical unit that goes after guns.

[00:29:14]>> force that they closed down.

[00:29:15]>> Oh, that one?

[00:29:15]>> Yeah. Or like, you know, the all the permit fees we pay, maybe put it towards that No, that just goes to the general fund.

[00:29:22]>> Right. Some of it goes to your town, but If it went to the SLFU, they could actually do their job in a timely manner. And that's government.

[00:29:29]>> Little things. But I'm sorry, we've we've gotten off track here, Sam. I apologize. So, we now we have So, what part of New Britain, like all of it, a chunk of it? Northern part.

[00:29:40]>> Northern part. Yes, most of the northern part, district 26.

[00:29:45]In fact, you represent a whole New Britain, you know, like basically Yeah.

[00:29:49]You you cannot because of the population after 29,000 and change, they have to put two. Okay.

[00:29:56]>> And Jamie Wogan is running for district 25.

[00:30:01]But you know, like and you know, like we have a state senator, but state senator is with other you know, cities together. Berlin and part of Farmington. Oh, okay. Now, is somebody cuz you don't have a Republican senator, right? Currently you have Democrat. So, is somebody running against that senator also?

[00:30:21]>> Of course, Tremaine Collins is running.

[00:30:23]Okay. Perfect.

[00:30:24]>> And the person running on the other side, Dick Lopes. Do I need to say anything else?

[00:30:30]>> [laughter] >> I wish we had a cleaning company and give money to the nonprofits that can give the jobs to a your cleaning companies. I charge. Yes. Yes. You know, or [laughter] like Gordy, his name is Gordy.

[00:30:43]Um or was it how was it Rep Gordie? I can't remember but in Hartford and yeah.

[00:30:48]Um All right. I don't So, we've touched on the firearms. We know you're pro 2A.

[00:30:53]You We know that you'd be an absolute wonderful help up there.

[00:30:57]>> Yes. Um Gun owner, you said, right? Yep.

[00:30:59]>> Yes. Yep.

[00:31:01]>> a little? A lot. I can't You can't say a lot. Okay, what's your favorite?

[00:31:07]Legion.

[00:31:08]Uh which one?

[00:31:09]>> 365 or 320? Or 220 or what? Yeah. Yeah, which one?

[00:31:14]>> My favorite is 226 X-Carry. Ooh.

[00:31:18]Okay.

[00:31:20]In fact, Michelle will help me out. I have a holster problem.

[00:31:24]I got my holster from the muddy rivers and it is not best to carry, you know.

[00:31:28]And Michelle will help me to do a custom holster for me. Absolutely. And you know, otherwise, I like my 229 Legion a lot, too.

[00:31:37]So, you just like your Legion.

[00:31:39]>> You're a SIG snob, just like Michelle.

[00:31:41]>> Oh, big [laughter] time.

[00:31:44]No, like of course >> What about We talked briefly. What about the Turkish ones? Where's the Tisas?

[00:31:49]Tisas is good, too, you know, especially the last CMX X, but Are you ready to go?

[00:31:55]>> Also, I just don't know the material science on that one well. I want to go with the proven ones, like Legion went through the 3 million ammo test. Okay.

[00:32:07]You cannot beat that, you know. It's a gun that you buy for the lifetime. If anybody's watching this, if you're listening to him, he dives in. He actually understands his firearms.

[00:32:18]Number two, like especially the bill that they want to pass for the convertible guns. Many people think that it is for only Glocks. I love my Glock 19 Gen 6, okay? I won't say anything bad about the gun because you can use the same mag with your Ruger carbines, you know, like that's the best, you know, if something happens. But what happens is this gun thing will also forbid lots of other guns like Caniks. Caniks will be, you know, like off to shelf, too. Like, "Hey, these are the most commonly used guns. How can you do this? And try to go with after the people who abuse them and, you know, like modify these guns, not the gun itself.

[00:33:04]And not the people that are own those guns or sell those guns. So, something that's happening [snorts] in Rhode Island and we [clears throat] do another podcast called the 2A Roundtable where we bring in two other Connecticut gun podcasters, YouTubers, and we talk about that. Rhode Island they had an assault weapons ban and they added one word, possession.

[00:33:27]I fear with this bill, if it gets passed as is, I think it might change before it hits the floor because it's it's getting there. And whoever knows when you're watching this, this could be old news at this point, but my fear is, let's say it gets passed with cruciform trigger bar.

[00:33:43]Which is what the definition of a convertible pistol >> What happens a year when they take out the word cruciform? Now we have trigger bar.

[00:33:50]And what happens when they take out the word trigger? Or sorry, when we take out the word bar. Now anything with a trigger. See how like removing one word, two words changes this entire legal standpoint? And they're going to be, "Oh, we're just taking out one word, not a big deal. Pass it across party lines."

[00:34:04]>> Well, cuz that's what they're doing. and everything. This bill that they're passing was the original ghost gun bill.

[00:34:11]Now they've just come in and change and tweak certain terms of certain firearms.

[00:34:16]So now we have a new bill, but it is the original. So they're already doing what you're saying. It's bad. It is. And anyone who doesn't understand that is a gun owner who does not understand that because they're like, "Oh, it's just a Glock. I don't want a Glock."

[00:34:30]It's It's about Glocks. Just like the 2012-13 Sandy Hook ban wasn't just about ARs.

[00:34:36]>> When they couldn't get their ammo, they were not happy.

[00:34:38]>> Yeah, with the permits and everything.

[00:34:39]Like Yeah. Got to pay attention, guys.

[00:34:42]In fact, many people don't realize that these are only stepping stones for gun confiscation. They will They want to take over our guns.

[00:34:53]And we shouldn't let this happen. Hey, check Virginia. Yeah.

[00:34:58]>> Is it next up? Check Rhode Island. Like all of a sudden >> Massachusetts has gotten Mass got worse.

[00:35:04]Yeah. Check Check Look at Canada.

[00:35:08]Yeah, look at Canada. Look at California. There's so many that are popping up, but Canada is horrific.

[00:35:13]>> Maine. Maine tried to push the owner's Sullivan's ban. Canada and Rhode Island are are I think competing right now.

[00:35:19]They are. Yeah. They're going to Doesn't one of those have an actual Second Amendment?

[00:35:24]Rhode Island.

[00:35:25]>> Ah, okay. And what are their They're >> going door-to-door now. In fact, let's look at England. They gave up their guns. Now, if they say anything that's against government policies, even exercising our First Amendment rights there, you are in jail. You put a Facebook pa- a post, you are in jail. You share a Facebook post of somebody else, you are in jail. Because they have no way of going after the tyrannical government.

[00:35:54]It is basically oppression. I don't approve this, England. I'm definitely not there in July and August, so Only touching down and then leaving. You're good.

[00:36:03]>> Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, short stay.

[00:36:04]>> I'm running over to France real quick.

[00:36:06]>> [laughter] >> But So, we've touched on guns. We have touched on, you know, the policies as far as education, that kind of stuff.

[00:36:15]You've explained to us that how you feel things need to be changed up when you get up there. And if anybody's looking for you, how do they find you, Sal? How do they donate money to you? How do they read more information about who you are? I have a uh you know, I have a Facebook like page, you know, like you can use that one. Uh-huh. And people can use that one, you know, like also I have a another account as France of Sal Simsek.

[00:36:42]And they can use that one, you know, and What's your Facebook?

[00:36:46]Facebook is, you know, like my name, you know, like >> just Sal Simsek?

[00:36:49]>> Yes, Sal Simsek and one Facebook like page is Sal Simsek for, you know, state representative candidate and, you know, like can find me there. So, I'll link all that in the bio.

[00:37:00]>> Yes. I'll put your little QR code above your head right now for your Anedot. Not right by the time they watch this.

[00:37:06]>> Yeah, right now.

[00:37:07]>> [laughter] >> Oops, it's there right now.

[00:37:09]Oh, thank you. So, any So, what we have in Connecticut is the Citizens Election Program.

[00:37:16]>> Yes. So, you need to raise what is it?

[00:37:19]$7,200 from Connecticut residents and then so many people in your specific district, too, Yes. to unlock a significant We'll say a significant amount of money so you can go and do like ads and social media and a campaign manager and all that good stuff.

[00:37:36]So, don't >> So, if you're in his district, you need your name, address on there and I think it's just a minimum of $5, right? Yes. Basically, you need 150 signatures. It's $5 each, which is 750.

[00:37:50]But, I say 180 in case state elections, you know, like gets picked care about it and they do. And they do, you know, you know, like I to be safe, I say that $5 at 180, which is $900.

[00:38:05]And the rest of it will would would can come from the rest of the country. No problem.

[00:38:10]You know, like and my treasurer is the previous play mode uh male, Joe Killdaf. And Joseph Killdaf.

[00:38:20]And, you know, and he's very picky about it, too. Which I am, too.

[00:38:24]>> Yes.

[00:38:25]>> And you know, like yeah, everything >> to have your ducks in done your eyes and crossing your tees cuz it's hard, especially I know with campaigns, it's hard being the treasurer. That's one of the hardest jobs besides the candidate themselves. I was talking to a Rob Schroeder or Sue and um I think it was last Friday I talked to her and um cuz they always kick back some. So like one of mine was like I just put down like self-employed and like I still put my business name but I couldn't put that.

[00:38:51]I'd put owner. Yes. And I'm like okay, sure. Like I'll go and Yeah, I'll go and fix it. It's weird little stuff like that.

[00:38:57]>> Anybody watching this podcast can go to his when we put up the when you have look at the QR code above his name. And the link will be in the description for you people that are not technological.

[00:39:08]Because he, you know, this helps him to be able to get lawn signs, to be able to do ads, to be able to fight the Democrat that he's running against. And it's not much.

[00:39:19]>> Anti-gun. Yes. Sorry, it's my bad. To me they're one in the same. It's usually Yeah, like 99% of the time, but I just want to be specific.

[00:39:27]>> No, correct. And that way, you know, five bucks five bucks, most people can afford five bucks and it really goes a long way to help him get the ability to be noticed and get out there to everyone that he needs to reach.

[00:39:41]And I will appreciate every donation and by this way that we that there will not be any special interest and I want to represent everybody and fight for everybody. You know, what I feel is right now, what we discuss, is people are being ruled, not represented.

[00:40:00]Yes. Let's give a chance for representation.

[00:40:04]I like that. I like that.

[00:40:05]>> And you know what? That should be elections, not selections. Yes. Yes.

[00:40:11]Yes.

[00:40:12]>> And I want to invite every Republican to go and vote. You know what?

[00:40:19]Any Republican, you know, who doesn't vote elect Democrats. Yes, you elect Democrats.

[00:40:24]>> That's the reality, you know.

[00:40:26]>> We've said that multiple times.

[00:40:27]>> Over and over and over.

[00:40:29]>> Or Republicans that stay home elect Democrats, yep. Mhm. All the time. No, it's it's important, absolutely. And don't forget to if you go into his Facebook page, you can also see what events he's putting on, where he's going to be, when he's going to be. So, and there might be >> Go and talk to him. Yeah. Reach out to him, talk to him, see if he's doing some sort of Sometimes once the campaigns get going pretty good, there's always an text blast or email blast that you can get put on if you're interested, especially those that live within New Britain. Yeah. Please, please, please pay attention.

[00:40:59]>> have time, volunteer. Yeah. Volunteer and knock, right? One day during the summer, hopefully you're out there door knocking.

[00:41:06]I ordered this started Good job.

[00:41:09]Today I got my flyers and everything, post cards.

[00:41:14]>> This what I did. All right, there are ours. I went to the each Brittany Farms condos. Huh. And drop my, you know, cards to the post, you know, like mailboxes.

[00:41:26]And at at our condo complex, I went to those knocked the doors. Nice. And I even went to the condo complex next to the you know, like Costco and even did it there. Then I went to local businesses and visited them. Good. And you know, like dropped there, too. And You got it.

[00:41:47]Yeah. Um and it's something that I learned very quickly with the municipality aspect is you have to go and door knock and it's not super fun all the time. I door knocked a lot of I probably door knocked and I'll objectively say this in Southington more than anyone else did in Southington this past election because I wanted to win. I didn't want to like go and throw my name out there and then lose. Like if I'm doing this, I want to win. So, to any potential candidate watching this, you got to go and do your knocking. It is still the best way to reach people and to have that personal 30-second conversation. Sometimes they're not 30 seconds and sometimes that ruin that not ruins it messes up your whole plan of the day. But, sometimes they're like, "Hey, you know, here it is." Sometimes they're not home.

[00:42:30]But, honestly, like 80% they're not home or don't answer the door. That's fun.

[00:42:34]You leave it on the door, little sticky note, "Sorry I missed you. You know, looking forward to your vote. Thank you." And you move on. Uh Josh, also I used AI tools and found the contacts for all the business executives in New Britain and I submitted them my rebuilt New Britain plan. Good.

[00:42:54]>> And what I would do for them.

[00:42:56]Because you know that New Britain lost Stanley with more than 300 jobs this year. Yeah. And basically we need to rebuild it. It's a New Britain is an old industrial city, old town. Yeah. And the goal is, you know, like I I laid out my plan to them.

[00:43:16]And it we need to reach out to the people. You know what?

[00:43:21]The policy should be not anti this, anti that. It is the policy should be what you can do and create plans and bring it to the people. And I am already working on these plans and I want to bring solutions to the people and I would appreciate their support because with this support I can represent them. I think that's awesome. And you know, even when he's out door knocking, if you can volunteer sometimes, sometimes it really helps just to be driving so that he can walk, get in, or have the so that he's not doing it all by himself. It really helps to have those extra people and if that's not a hard job, then >> Planning to get your car back is always the fun part. I have a map. [laughter] Yes. I'm like, "Where are we going to park? We got to go this way or go this way?" I used to just drive the car and then let him walk and do his thing and I just kind of follow along. I always had the leaflets and the brochures right there. He could grab more and just go on out.

[00:44:09]>> Yeah. And love that job. That works for me. Make the wife do that [snorts] in a year and a half. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:44:14]>> So, we're running out of time.

[00:44:16]Uh but thank you for coming on, Sal. Um all of your links and stuff will be in the description below here on YouTube.

[00:44:23]Um and should be on Facebook and Instagram and wherever the hell else this gets posted.

[00:44:28]Any final thoughts?

[00:44:30]I want to thank you, Josh and Michelle, you know, like for giving this opportunity to introduce myself and, you know, like and tell people what how I would represent them and my plans.

[00:44:42]And also, I want to thank everybody in this who are listening to the and watching this you know podcast and, you know, like basically I want to thank Connecticut.

[00:44:54]Yeah. That's awesome. We need representation here. Okay? Do it and vote accordingly.

[00:45:02]And don't ever think that my vote won't change anything. Your vote changes everything. One vote matters. We've seen that over and over. Yes, in more times than they can count. All right. Well, Sal, thank you for having for coming on.

[00:45:17]Say thank you for doing this with us. I really appreciate it. It's been wonderful getting to hear about your what you're running on and what your policies are. I love it. Thank you. My name's Josh. And I'm Michelle.

[00:45:28]And my name is Sal. And we'll see you guys next time. Bye-bye.

[00:45:31]>> Bye-bye.

[00:45:43]Lock and Load Podcast is sponsored by Lock and Load Firearms, Connecticut's number one rated gun store and pistol permit class on Google. Come check us out 1573 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike in Southington, Lock and Load Firearms.

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