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Aurora shooting survivors to testify in Conn. about gun violence after Newtown massacre

HARTFORD, Conn. — Two survivors of the Colorado theater shooting are expected to testify before a subcommittee of a Connecticut legislative task force looking into gun violence prevention and school safety in response to the deadly Newtown school shooting.

State lawmakers say Stephen Barton and Ethan Rodriguez-Torrent will testify Monday. They are friends who grew up in Southbury, Conn., which is right next to Newtown, and survived the Aurora, Colo., shooting that killed 12 people last July.

Twenty students and six educators were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School last month.

A large crowd is expected at the 10 a.m. hearing. State capitol police have set up metal detectors because of the sensitive nature of the topic.

The full 52-member task force will hold a public hearing Wednesday night at Newtown High School.