State Sen. Sam S.F. Caligiuri announced he has formed the Three Strikes Now Coalition, a not-for-profit, non-partisan grass roots organization dedicated to the enactment of a "three strikes and you're out" law in Connecticut. The coalition's Web site is  www.threestrikesnow.com.

The mission of the coalition is to "build sustained, broad based public support for three strikes with the objective of persuading a majority of Connecticut state legislators to vote in favor of three strikes legislation," Caligiuri said. The coalition is pushing for a law that would impose a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole for any person sentenced under this law who is convicted of committing three violent crimes, including rape, manslaughter and violent assaults.

The honorary co-chairpersons of the coalition are William A. Petit Jr. and his sister Johanna Petit-Chapman, both of Plainville. Petit's wife and two daughters were killed in a home invasion last summer in their home in Cheshire. The other officers of the coalition are Marilyn and Joe Bartoli, also of Cheshire. The Bartolis organized a rally in Cheshire last summer in support of enacting a three strikes law and have remained active in pushing this legislation since that time.

The coalition will conduct various activities. Caligiuri and other members of the coalition hope to speak to civic and political groups around the state about three strikes in an effort to build greater public awareness of and support for the initiative. The coalition will also be sending each candidate for election to the General Assembly a letter asking that they sign a pledge form promising that they will support three strikes legislation if they are elected.

"We are committed to pushing for the enactment of a three strikes law in Connecticut because such a law could help keep people safer from repeat, violent criminals. We have formed the coalition in order to organize, sustain and build on the broad public support that exists for this important initiative," Caligiuri said.

Anyone interested in learning more about or contacting the coalition can do so through its Web site at www.threestrikesnow.com.