Law Passes on Gun Violence Prevention Day

Contributed photos

On June 2, proclaimed as Gun Violence Prevention Day in Weston, the State Senate gave final approval to legislation intended to reduce gun violence, stop mass shootings, and prevent firearm accidents and suicides.

The day was observed in a “Wear Orange” ceremony on the steps of Town Hall.

In the photo above, from left to right, Nora Williams, First Selectwoman Samantha Nestor, Riley Crafts, Ellen Crafts and Lori Freemon of Moms Demand Action CT review the proclamation, which notes that Connecticut had 241 gun deaths in 2022, the highest in over 15 years. It also contains statistics about child firearm suicides, gun thefts, and says abused women are five times more likely to be killed if their abusers own a firearm.

Legislation

Governor Ned Lamont said he would sign into law House Bill 6667, An Act Addressing Gun Violence, which passed the House on May 25 by a vote of 96–51. It passed by 24–11 in the Senate.

“While I firmly believe that our country needs stronger laws at the federal level to prevent gun violence,” said the governor, “the inaction by Congress requires each individual state to act, and this legislation that is now heading to my desk includes several comprehensive changes that modernize our firearm safety laws in a smart and strategic way to help prevent tragedy from happening.”

Among the provisions of the bill, open carry of firearms in public is now banned, bulk purchases are limited to three guns every 30 days (or six for instructors), and safe storage laws now apply to all situations, not just those where a minor or prohibited person could gain access to a firearm.

Now included in the state’s existing assault weapons ban are firearms that were carved out of the original 1994 legislation, including those with special features that are already prohibited on pistols and rifles, such as silencers. A new registration requirement will be implemented and apply to guns that were exempt in 1994. Registered owners will be able to keep those weapons, but “further transfers are generally barred.”

All firearms, not just handguns, must now be sold with a trigger lock. Existing restrictions on retail sales of semiautomatic rifles to those under 21 will apply to private sales, and ghost guns assembled before they were banned in 2019 must be registered.

Those who commit family violence crimes are disqualified from obtaining a pistol permit. Training requirements for pistol permits and eligibility certificates will now require instruction on safe storage, state firearms laws, and lawful use of firearms.

The legislation contains increased penalties for those with repeated serious firearm offenses and for possession of large-capacity magazines. It also stipulates that anyone purchasing body armor must possess a pistol permit or eligibility certificate, excepting certain law enforcement officers, state and judicial officials, and military personnel.

Left to right: Darcy Barrera-Hawes, Jennai Williams, Samantha Nestor, Ellen Crafts, Lori Freemon, Kerry Sheffield.

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