Connecticut's top Democrats are promising to protect the strict gun laws passed after Sandy Hook in the wake of this weekend's deadly synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh.

Monday in Hartford, Woodbridge Rabbi Rona Shapiro joined Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont in calling for even stricter state gun laws.

Gun control wasn't a major issue in the governor's race, until Lamont launched an emotional advertisement featuring the daughter of Sandy Hook Principal Dawn Hochsprung – an ad that drew sharp criticism from another victim's brother.

MORE: Security boosted at CT synagogues in wake of Pittsburgh attack

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski said Monday that Lamont is politicizing a tragedy. He insisted he would take a wait-and-see approach to rolling back Connecticut's strict gun laws.

Scott Wilson, president of Connecticut Citizens Defense League, released a statement saying:

Shapiro says she had no intention of getting into the governor's race until the Pittsburgh shooting.