- Fri Feb 12, 2010 4:47 pm
#9222
PUBLIC HEARING: PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2010
The Public Safety and Security Committee will hold a public hearing on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 11: 00 A. M. in Room 1B of the LOB. Please submit 45 copies of written testimony to Committee staff one hour prior to the start of the hearing in Room 1B of the LOB. Sign-up for the hearing will begin at 9:00 A. M. in Room 1B of the LOB. The first hour of the hearing is reserved for Elected Officials, Legislators and State Agency Representatives. Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes of testimony. Unofficial sign-up sheets have no standing with the Committee.
SUBJECT MATTER: Miscellaneous Bills (14 bills on the Agenda) http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/bul/2010BUL00216-R00-BUL.htm
H. B. No. 5158 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF FIREARMS. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/TOB/H/2010HB ... R00-HB.htm (Department of Public Safety (DPS) bill.) Sec. 10 STRONGLY OPPOSE; Sec. 11 OPPOSE; Sec. 3 SUPPORT
Sec. 10. STRONGLY OPPOSE. Sec. 29-37a. Sale, or delivery at retail of firearm other than pistol or revolver. Procedure. Removal of the words, [at retail,] would eliminate sale of ALL long guns between individuals, requiring that an FFL (federally licensed firearms dealer) be involved adding cost to the seller/buyer and inconvenience while doing nothing to enhance public safety. Additionally, there will be a cost in manpower and administration to the DPS State Police Weapons Division for entry of this data although DPS claims NO fiscal impact. DPS currently defines: “Retail Sale of Firearms (All Firearms) Retail sales are made when you purchase a new or used firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer (FFL). These transactions are strictly regulated by the Special License and Firearms (SLFU) and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).”
What is the compelling need to change the statues for rifles and shotguns- to the extent they are treated as if they are handguns? For several decades, since gun laws were established, the distinction between handguns and rifles/shotguns has been clear: handguns are the preferred choice of criminals. What is the problem in society that this extensive change of legislation is going to fix? Can the proponents of this bill point to a problem?
This is a Registration bill, an anathema to gun owners and not without cause. We need only to look to Great Britain, Australia, South Africa, and California, New York, Chicago, Washington DC, and others where Registration has led to confiscation. In no instance has registration/confiscation lowered the crime rate, and data indicates it has increased criminality. Ostensibly this is a simple change to standardize procedures, it mixes apples (handguns) and oranges (long guns), is confusing, decreases police resources, will not affect criminals, will have a significant impact on gun owners, firearms retailers, and will accomplish nothing in furthering public safety.
How will a citizen conform to obtaining “an authorization number (NICS - National Instant Criminal Background Check) from the Commissioner of Public Safety for such sale,
delivery or transfer”? Or, is it reasonable to have citizens file forms “attached by the vendor to the federal sale or transfer document and filed and retained by the vendor for at least twenty years or until such vendor goes out of business”? Or, “Not later than twenty-four hours after such delivery, the vendor shall send by first class mail or electronically transfer one receipt to the Commissioner of Public Safety and one receipt to the chief of police or, where there is no chief of police, the warden of the borough or the first selectman, of the town in which the purchaser resides, and shall retain one receipt, together with the original application, for at least five years.” And, “Such application shall be available for inspection during normal business hours by law enforcement officials” – will CSP inspect and do they have the manpower to do so?
We believe this section, if passed, will lead to more problems for ALL firearms owners and ALL associated with sales, administration and enforcement. CT
currently has predominately reasoned firearms procedures and firearms laws which are the envy of surrounding states. Our message, – Iif it ain’t broke, Don’t fix it!
We also OPPOSE the deletion: [and the provisions of this subsection] in Subsec (b). This is REGISTRATION of Long guns applicable to ALL sales since the previous deletion [at retail,] imposes requirements on individuals that cannot be met. These include “A DPS-67-C [Application to Purchase] and a DPS-3-C (4 copies) [Sale or Transfer] must be completed. The seller of the handgun must contact the Special Licensing and Firearms Unit at (860) 685-8400, or 1-(888) 335-8438 and obtain an authorization number for that sale. This number is to be added to both forms. The DPS-67-C is to be retained by the seller for 20 years. The seller should retain the original copy of the DPS-3 for their records, give one copy to the purchaser as a receipt, submit one copy to the local police authority where the purchaser resides and submit a final copy to the Commissioner of Public Safety.” We recommend the DPS retain the current standard: “Rifles and Shotguns Sales of long arms between non-licensed dealers, commonly referred to as second hand sales, require no paperwork or notification, however, it is strongly recommended that all firearms be voluntarily registered. In the event of loss or theft of firearm this will provide easy retrieval of information for insurance or police information and assure return of recovered property. (exception: sales conducted at gun shows require NICS authorization check and transfer paperwork) The only restrictions are the seller may not sell to anyone under 18 years of age, or to anyone the seller knows is prohibited from possessing firearms.” DPS Special Licensing and Firearms http://www.ct.gov/dps/cwp/view.asp?a=21 ... 88&dpsNav=| It is patently clear that these requirements on citizens cannot or will not be met, impacts current retail sales and imposes additional manpower/administrative costs on both the small business dealer and the CSP. Recommend retention of [and the provisions of this subsection] and the deletion of the complete section except document transfer instructions.
Waiting Period: With Instant Check now on-line, for all retail and gun show firearms purchases in this State; the Waiting Period provision is an unwarranted imposition on only selective citizens and a waste of police/vendor administrative effort. This section passed in 1990 when there was no instant check and the argument for the waiting period was to perform an adequate background investigation. The current waiting period applies only to a small segment of the population since most persons with an interest in firearms - law enforcement, pistol permit holders, members of the military, and hunting license holders - are exempt. Some examples of those who have had to wait are: collectors, rifle and shotgun target shooters, and citizens who deem they have a need for home self-protection. With the background “instant check” investigation in place and working, there is no legitimate reason to discriminate and preclude ANY legitimate citizen from immediate purchase. The counter argument will be there should be a "cooling off" period, although there is no scientific basis for this claim. By the proponents own admission and scientific data, long guns are not the “problem,” and not the criminal’s “weapon of choice.” Since we now have an effective “instant check” on all guns, including rifles and shotguns, there is no reason for a waiting period. Elimination will also reduce State Police administration efforts.
We would also suggest elimination of the requirement “shall be enclosed in a package, the paper or wrapping of which shall be securely fastened” as outdated , inappropriate, and unenforced.
OPPOSE Sec. 11. Section 29-37g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2010):
(a) For the purposes of this section, (1) "gun show" means any event (A) at which fifty or more firearms are offered or exhibited for sale, transfer or exchange to the public, and (B) at which two or more persons are exhibiting one or more firearms for sale, transfer or exchange to the public; and (2) "gun show promoter" means any person who organizes, plans, promotes or operates a gun show.
(b) Not later than thirty days before commencement of a gun show, the gun show promoter shall notify the Commissioner of Public Safety and the chief of police of the town in which the gun show is to take place or, where there is no chief of police, the warden of the borough or the first selectman of the town in which the gun show is to take place of the date, time, duration and location of the gun show.
(c) No person, firm or corporation shall sell, deliver or otherwise transfer a firearm at a gun show until such person, firm or corporation has complied with the provisions of section 29-36l. Police should communicate with each other. Why impose more requirements on small business entrepreneurs? This proposal has been rejected in the recent past.
SUPPORT Sec. 3. Section 53-206d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2010):
(1) No person shall carry a pistol, revolver, machine gun, shotgun, rifle or other firearm, which is loaded and from which a shot may be discharged, upon his person (A) while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both, or (B) while the ratio of alcohol in the blood of such person is [ten-hundredths] eight-hundredths of one per cent or more of alcohol, by weight.
(b) (1) No person shall engage in hunting while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both, or while impaired by the consumption of intoxicating liquor. [Same as Above.] Compatible with other intoxication statutes.
For more information about this bill and other firearms legislation, please visit www.ctsportsmen.com Under Legislation. To view the entire text of the bill, visit www.cga.ct.gov and type in the bill number at the top of the page.
E-mail, and Write, and Phone Call YOUR State Representative and State Senator in addition to Committee members. We need YOU to contact them and provide feedback to us should they make a commitment of Support or Opposition. [email protected]
You can find your CT legislator at http://www.cga.ct.gov/maps/townlist.asp or in the Blue pages under “Connecticut, State of” then “Legislators”.
PUBLIC SAFETY & SECURITY Members 2009-10 e-mail contacts.
SENATORS STILLMAN, (Chair), 20th District; DAILY, (Vice Chair), 33rd.
SENATOR GUGLIELMO, (Ranking Member), 35th District.
REPRESENTATIVES DARGAN, (Chair), 115th District; JUTILA, (Vice Chair), 37th; BOUKUS, 22nd; CARUSO, 126th; CLEMONS, 124th; ESPOSITO, 116th; GONZALEZ, 3rd; HEWETT, 39th; JARMOC, 59th; LARSON, 11th; MIKUTEL, 45th; ORANGE, 48th; ROBLES, 6th; SAYERS, 60th; SHAPIRO, 144th.
REPRESENTATIVES PERILLO, (Ranking Member), 113th District; BACCHIOCHI, 52nd; CHAPIN, 67th; D'AMELIO, 71st; Rebimbas, 70th
Clerk: David Kiner Room 3600, LOB 860-240-0570
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2010
The Public Safety and Security Committee will hold a public hearing on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 11: 00 A. M. in Room 1B of the LOB. Please submit 45 copies of written testimony to Committee staff one hour prior to the start of the hearing in Room 1B of the LOB. Sign-up for the hearing will begin at 9:00 A. M. in Room 1B of the LOB. The first hour of the hearing is reserved for Elected Officials, Legislators and State Agency Representatives. Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes of testimony. Unofficial sign-up sheets have no standing with the Committee.
SUBJECT MATTER: Miscellaneous Bills (14 bills on the Agenda) http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/bul/2010BUL00216-R00-BUL.htm
H. B. No. 5158 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF FIREARMS. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/TOB/H/2010HB ... R00-HB.htm (Department of Public Safety (DPS) bill.) Sec. 10 STRONGLY OPPOSE; Sec. 11 OPPOSE; Sec. 3 SUPPORT
Sec. 10. STRONGLY OPPOSE. Sec. 29-37a. Sale, or delivery at retail of firearm other than pistol or revolver. Procedure. Removal of the words, [at retail,] would eliminate sale of ALL long guns between individuals, requiring that an FFL (federally licensed firearms dealer) be involved adding cost to the seller/buyer and inconvenience while doing nothing to enhance public safety. Additionally, there will be a cost in manpower and administration to the DPS State Police Weapons Division for entry of this data although DPS claims NO fiscal impact. DPS currently defines: “Retail Sale of Firearms (All Firearms) Retail sales are made when you purchase a new or used firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer (FFL). These transactions are strictly regulated by the Special License and Firearms (SLFU) and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).”
What is the compelling need to change the statues for rifles and shotguns- to the extent they are treated as if they are handguns? For several decades, since gun laws were established, the distinction between handguns and rifles/shotguns has been clear: handguns are the preferred choice of criminals. What is the problem in society that this extensive change of legislation is going to fix? Can the proponents of this bill point to a problem?
This is a Registration bill, an anathema to gun owners and not without cause. We need only to look to Great Britain, Australia, South Africa, and California, New York, Chicago, Washington DC, and others where Registration has led to confiscation. In no instance has registration/confiscation lowered the crime rate, and data indicates it has increased criminality. Ostensibly this is a simple change to standardize procedures, it mixes apples (handguns) and oranges (long guns), is confusing, decreases police resources, will not affect criminals, will have a significant impact on gun owners, firearms retailers, and will accomplish nothing in furthering public safety.
How will a citizen conform to obtaining “an authorization number (NICS - National Instant Criminal Background Check) from the Commissioner of Public Safety for such sale,
delivery or transfer”? Or, is it reasonable to have citizens file forms “attached by the vendor to the federal sale or transfer document and filed and retained by the vendor for at least twenty years or until such vendor goes out of business”? Or, “Not later than twenty-four hours after such delivery, the vendor shall send by first class mail or electronically transfer one receipt to the Commissioner of Public Safety and one receipt to the chief of police or, where there is no chief of police, the warden of the borough or the first selectman, of the town in which the purchaser resides, and shall retain one receipt, together with the original application, for at least five years.” And, “Such application shall be available for inspection during normal business hours by law enforcement officials” – will CSP inspect and do they have the manpower to do so?
We believe this section, if passed, will lead to more problems for ALL firearms owners and ALL associated with sales, administration and enforcement. CT
currently has predominately reasoned firearms procedures and firearms laws which are the envy of surrounding states. Our message, – Iif it ain’t broke, Don’t fix it!
We also OPPOSE the deletion: [and the provisions of this subsection] in Subsec (b). This is REGISTRATION of Long guns applicable to ALL sales since the previous deletion [at retail,] imposes requirements on individuals that cannot be met. These include “A DPS-67-C [Application to Purchase] and a DPS-3-C (4 copies) [Sale or Transfer] must be completed. The seller of the handgun must contact the Special Licensing and Firearms Unit at (860) 685-8400, or 1-(888) 335-8438 and obtain an authorization number for that sale. This number is to be added to both forms. The DPS-67-C is to be retained by the seller for 20 years. The seller should retain the original copy of the DPS-3 for their records, give one copy to the purchaser as a receipt, submit one copy to the local police authority where the purchaser resides and submit a final copy to the Commissioner of Public Safety.” We recommend the DPS retain the current standard: “Rifles and Shotguns Sales of long arms between non-licensed dealers, commonly referred to as second hand sales, require no paperwork or notification, however, it is strongly recommended that all firearms be voluntarily registered. In the event of loss or theft of firearm this will provide easy retrieval of information for insurance or police information and assure return of recovered property. (exception: sales conducted at gun shows require NICS authorization check and transfer paperwork) The only restrictions are the seller may not sell to anyone under 18 years of age, or to anyone the seller knows is prohibited from possessing firearms.” DPS Special Licensing and Firearms http://www.ct.gov/dps/cwp/view.asp?a=21 ... 88&dpsNav=| It is patently clear that these requirements on citizens cannot or will not be met, impacts current retail sales and imposes additional manpower/administrative costs on both the small business dealer and the CSP. Recommend retention of [and the provisions of this subsection] and the deletion of the complete section except document transfer instructions.
Waiting Period: With Instant Check now on-line, for all retail and gun show firearms purchases in this State; the Waiting Period provision is an unwarranted imposition on only selective citizens and a waste of police/vendor administrative effort. This section passed in 1990 when there was no instant check and the argument for the waiting period was to perform an adequate background investigation. The current waiting period applies only to a small segment of the population since most persons with an interest in firearms - law enforcement, pistol permit holders, members of the military, and hunting license holders - are exempt. Some examples of those who have had to wait are: collectors, rifle and shotgun target shooters, and citizens who deem they have a need for home self-protection. With the background “instant check” investigation in place and working, there is no legitimate reason to discriminate and preclude ANY legitimate citizen from immediate purchase. The counter argument will be there should be a "cooling off" period, although there is no scientific basis for this claim. By the proponents own admission and scientific data, long guns are not the “problem,” and not the criminal’s “weapon of choice.” Since we now have an effective “instant check” on all guns, including rifles and shotguns, there is no reason for a waiting period. Elimination will also reduce State Police administration efforts.
We would also suggest elimination of the requirement “shall be enclosed in a package, the paper or wrapping of which shall be securely fastened” as outdated , inappropriate, and unenforced.
OPPOSE Sec. 11. Section 29-37g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2010):
(a) For the purposes of this section, (1) "gun show" means any event (A) at which fifty or more firearms are offered or exhibited for sale, transfer or exchange to the public, and (B) at which two or more persons are exhibiting one or more firearms for sale, transfer or exchange to the public; and (2) "gun show promoter" means any person who organizes, plans, promotes or operates a gun show.
(b) Not later than thirty days before commencement of a gun show, the gun show promoter shall notify the Commissioner of Public Safety and the chief of police of the town in which the gun show is to take place or, where there is no chief of police, the warden of the borough or the first selectman of the town in which the gun show is to take place of the date, time, duration and location of the gun show.
(c) No person, firm or corporation shall sell, deliver or otherwise transfer a firearm at a gun show until such person, firm or corporation has complied with the provisions of section 29-36l. Police should communicate with each other. Why impose more requirements on small business entrepreneurs? This proposal has been rejected in the recent past.
SUPPORT Sec. 3. Section 53-206d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2010):
(1) No person shall carry a pistol, revolver, machine gun, shotgun, rifle or other firearm, which is loaded and from which a shot may be discharged, upon his person (A) while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both, or (B) while the ratio of alcohol in the blood of such person is [ten-hundredths] eight-hundredths of one per cent or more of alcohol, by weight.
(b) (1) No person shall engage in hunting while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both, or while impaired by the consumption of intoxicating liquor. [Same as Above.] Compatible with other intoxication statutes.
For more information about this bill and other firearms legislation, please visit www.ctsportsmen.com Under Legislation. To view the entire text of the bill, visit www.cga.ct.gov and type in the bill number at the top of the page.
E-mail, and Write, and Phone Call YOUR State Representative and State Senator in addition to Committee members. We need YOU to contact them and provide feedback to us should they make a commitment of Support or Opposition. [email protected]
You can find your CT legislator at http://www.cga.ct.gov/maps/townlist.asp or in the Blue pages under “Connecticut, State of” then “Legislators”.
PUBLIC SAFETY & SECURITY Members 2009-10 e-mail contacts.
SENATORS STILLMAN, (Chair), 20th District; DAILY, (Vice Chair), 33rd.
SENATOR GUGLIELMO, (Ranking Member), 35th District.
REPRESENTATIVES DARGAN, (Chair), 115th District; JUTILA, (Vice Chair), 37th; BOUKUS, 22nd; CARUSO, 126th; CLEMONS, 124th; ESPOSITO, 116th; GONZALEZ, 3rd; HEWETT, 39th; JARMOC, 59th; LARSON, 11th; MIKUTEL, 45th; ORANGE, 48th; ROBLES, 6th; SAYERS, 60th; SHAPIRO, 144th.
REPRESENTATIVES PERILLO, (Ranking Member), 113th District; BACCHIOCHI, 52nd; CHAPIN, 67th; D'AMELIO, 71st; Rebimbas, 70th
Clerk: David Kiner Room 3600, LOB 860-240-0570
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
NRA Certified Instructor - Si vis pacem, para bellum - [email protected]
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