Month: March 2019

Oppose S.B. 60 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PRESENTATION OF A CARRY PERMIT, H.B. 7219 AN ACT CONCERNING GHOST GUNS, H.B. 7223 AN ACT CONCERNING THE STORAGE OF A PISTOL OR REVOLVER IN A MOTOR VEHICLE.

Support S.B. 940 AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PERSONS TO CARRY HANDGUNS IN STATE PARKS AND FORESTS, H.B. 5227 AN ACT CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF FIREARMS BY MUNICIPALITIES, H.B. 5870 AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSFER OF ASSAULT WEAPONS AND LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES.

Amend H.B. 7218 AN ACT CONCERNING THE SAFE STORAGE OF FIREARMS IN THE HOME.

Dear Judiciary Committee Members,

My name is [YOUR NAME], I am from [YOUR TOWN].  I’m opposed to S.B. 60, No citizen should be detained without a reasonable suspicion of a crime. I’m opposed to H.B. 7219, criminals aren’t known for their patience, manufacturing skill or attention to detail, so the likelihood of them buying the parts to build an untraceable gun is as close to zero as one can get. I’m also opposed to H.B. 7223.

I’m in support of; S.B. 940, H.B. 5227, H.B. 5870.

I asked that H.B. 7218 be amended to give our youth the resources they need. Adopt the Eddie the Eagle Program.  It’s in place, it’s working, it’s cheap and it’s effective.    

Respectfully,

[YOUR NAME]

[YOUR TOWN]

Distinguished Members of the Judiciary Committee;

As a resident of Connecticut, I ask that you do not support;

S.B. 60 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PRESENTATION OF A CARRY PERMIT. This committee must recognize these facts. Permit holders are all people who have passed multiple background checks, have been fingerprinted, and obey the laws.

H.B. 7218 AN ACT CONCERNING THE SAFE STORAGE OF FIREARMS IN THE HOME. Education is really the key: we teach kids ‘don’t touch a hot stove’, we don’t ignore the fact that hot stoves exist. Kids need to be taught: don’t touch, leave the area, tell an adult about guns, just like they’re taught stop, drop and roll about fire and don’t touch a hot stove.

H.B. 7219 AN ACT CONCERNING GHOST GUNS. This bill has nothing to do with safety or stopping criminals from access to firearms.

H.B. 7223 AN ACT CONCERNING THE STORAGE OF A PISTOL OR REVOLVER IN A MOTOR VEHICLE.

I’m in full support of;

S.B. 940 AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PERSONS TO CARRY HANDGUNS IN STATE PARKS AND STATE FORESTS.

H.B. 5227 AN ACT CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF FIREARMS BY MUNICIPALITIES. State preemption laws prevent local jurisdictions from enacting ordinances that irreconcilably conflict with state statutes. Local firearms ordinances conflict with state statues. Please pass a preemptive law.

H.B. 5870 AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSFER OF ASSAULT WEAPONS AND LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES. This is a good bill and should be supported. It will allow for the current owners to sell their legally registered firearms to other legal owners. This does not increase number of owners or items within the state.

Respectfully,

[YOUR NAME]

[YOUR TOWN]

Sen Winfield, Rep. Stafstrom, and Distinguished Judiciary Committee Members; 

I am testifying in SUPPORT of;

S.B. 940 AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PERSONS TO CARRY HANDGUNS IN STATE PARKS AND STATE FORESTS. I support lawful permit holders like myself to allow us to carry firearms in state parks. I am often worried for my safety while out in the woods or on the trails.

H.B. 5227 AN ACT CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF FIREARMS BY MUNICIPALITIES. Bans concealed carry, allowing for open carry only.  Bans on 16 and 17-year-old from hunting. Bans on anyone under the age of 12 discharging a firearm. Bans on firearms outside of the home during state of emergency. These are just a few local ordinances in Connecticut. Can you name what towns these ordinances are from?

H.B. 5870 AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSFER OF ASSAULT WEAPONS AND LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES.

I am also testifying in opposition of;

S.B. No. 60 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PRESENTATION OF A CARRY PERMIT. Creating unnecessary and unwelcome police contact with civilians only contributes to the feeling of a police state. Not a society free from government intrusion.

H.B. No. 7218 AN ACT CONCERNING THE SAFE STORAGE OF FIREARMS IN THE HOME. This is a feel-good law that hasn’t prevented these tragedies. Let’s focus on firearm safety programs in schools and teenage suicide prevention. Help deglamorize and demystify guns through education.

H.B. No. 7219 AN ACT CONCERNING GHOST GUNS. Many muzzleloader firearms are available in kit form so that the honest and law-abiding citizen can enjoy the satisfaction of building a replica of a historic American firearm at home and then using it legally for hunting, target shooting and historic reenactments.

H.B. No. 7223 AN ACT CONCERNING THE STORAGE OF A PISTOL OR REVOLVER IN A MOTOR VEHICLE. Don’t allow citizens to become prosecuted for being a victim of a car robbery. Proponents of this bill are saying a simple safe with prevent theft. Safes and locks are only for honest people. Prosecuted the criminals, not the victims.

Thank you for this opportunity to submit my testimony,

[YOUR NAME]

[YOUR TOWN]

Senator Winfield, Representative Stafstrom, and distinguished members of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary:

My name is [YOUR NAME], I am from [YOUR TOWN].  I am testifying in support of;

H.B. No. 5870 AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSFER OF ASSAULT WEAPONS AND LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES. This allows for the current property owners to sell their property to other owners. This doesn’t increase the owners.

H.B. No. 5227 AN ACT CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF FIREARMS BY MUNICIPALITIES. Connecticut state statutes already preempts local firearm sale regulations. Connecticut state statutes needs to include the ownership, possession, use, purchase, sale, transportation or transfer of firearms or components for State legal firearms.

S.B. No. 940 AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PERSONS TO CARRY HANDGUNS IN STATE PARKS AND STATE FORESTS. This bill would end the prohibition on the carrying of firearms by permitted individuals in Connecticut State Parks. This makes sense since the DESPP and local issuing authorities within Connecticut have already determined that these people can be trusted to carry firearms in public. State Parks should not be treated differently than any other public space in this regard.

I am opposition of;

H.B. No. 7223 AN ACT CONCERNING THE STORAGE OF A PISTOL OR REVOLVER IN A MOTOR VEHICLE. This will create an unintended consequence; currently stolen firearms need to be reported to police within hours. If this bill becomes law, citizens will become reluctant to report stolen firearms because of fear of prosecution. 

H.B. No. 7219 AN ACT CONCERNING GHOST GUNS. This bill is unconstitutional, a direct infringement on my 2nd amendment rights. A direct attack on law abiding, firearm owning citizens and would do nothing to impact criminals.

H.B. No. 7218 AN ACT CONCERNING THE SAFE STORAGE OF FIREARMS IN THE HOME. Focus on the prevention. Adopt the Eddie Eagle Program.  It’s in place. It’s working.  It’s cheap and it’s effective. Focus on beefing up gun safety education.

S.B. No. 60 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PRESENTATION OF A CARRY PERMIT. Don’t pass a profiling bill, citizens should not be profiled because of their belief of self-protection.  This bill endangers the civil liberties of every citizen from being needlessly detained by police, without reason.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

[YOUR TOWN]

Dear Judiciary Committee;

As a lawful firearm owner and resident of Connecticut, I ask that you do not support any more firearm restrictions.

Oppose 7223, don’t allow citizens to become prosecuted for being a victim.

Oppose 60, no citizen should be detained without a reasonable suspicion of a crime.

Oppose 7219, this bill is unconstitutional and should not pass.

Oppose 7218, let’s focus on firearm safety programs in schools and teenage suicide prevention.

Support 940, this is a common-sense law for gun owners to exercise their rights.

Support 7870, this allows for the transfer among legal firearm enthusiast.

Support 5227, if a person owns a legal firearm collection, it should be legal throughout the state.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

[YOUR TOWN]

Oppose; S.B. 60, H.B. 7219, H.B. 7223

Support; S.B. 940, H.B. 5227, H.B. 5870

Amend; H.B. 7218 include prevention education

Judiciary Committee Members,

I am strongly in favor of H.B. 5227 An Act Concerning the Regulation of Firearms by Municipalities, which unifies under a single code all firearms laws for the State. The right guaranteed under Connecticut’s Article 1, section 15 can only be honored by avoiding a patchwork of impossible to track local rules and regulations determined each local authority.

Once granted a permit, the right to carry is for all Connecticut, and not precluded in one place or another due to the will of a populist vote. This is also why I am strongly in favor of S.B. 940 An Act Authorizing Certain Persons to Carry Handguns in State Parks and Forest. 

Please Support; S.B. 940, H.B. 5227, H.B. 5870. Support; S.B. 940, H.B. 5227, H.B. 5870. Amend; H.B. 7218 include prevention education

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

[YOUR TOWN]

Sen Winfield, Rep Stafstrom, Distinguished Members of the Judiciary Committee:

Vote yes for H.B. 5227, which prevents local preemption for firearms laws in the State. Once granted a permit (after a full background check), the right to carry is for all Connecticut guaranteed by State Law and the State Constitution. This is too important to leave to the whims and vagaries of patchwork decisions of towns.

Vote yes for:

H.B. 5227 AN ACT CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF FIREARMS BY MUNICIPALITIES.

H.B. 5870 AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSFER OF ASSAULT WEAPONS AND LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES

S.B. 940 AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PERSONS TO CARRY HANDGUNS IN STATE PARKS AND FOREST.

Vote no for:

S.B. 60 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PRESENTATION OF A CARRY PERMIT. 

H.B. 7219 AN ACT CONCERNING GHOST GUNS.

H.B. 7223 AN ACT CONCERNING THE STORAGE OF A PISTOL OR REVOLVER IN A MOTOR VEHICLE.

Amend H.B. 7218 AN ACT CONCERNING THE SAFE STORAGE OF FIREARMS IN THE HOME to include an education element.

Thank you for your time,

[YOUR NAME]

[YOUR TOWN]

Senator Winfield, Representative Stafstrom, and distinguished members of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary:

My name is [YOUR NAME], I am from [TOWN].  I am testifying today in support of;

S.B. 940 AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN PERSONS TO CARRY HANDGUNS IN STATE PARKS AND STATE FORESTS.

H.B. 5227 AN ACT CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF FIREARMS BY MUNICIPALITIES.

H.B. 5870 AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSFER OF ASSAULT WEAPONS AND LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES.

I’m oppose to;

S.B. No. 60 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PRESENTATION OF A CARRY PERMIT. 

H.B. No. 7218 AN ACT CONCERNING THE SAFE STORAGE OF FIREARMS IN THE HOME.

H.B. No. 7219 AN ACT CONCERNING GHOST GUNS.

H.B. No. 7223 AN ACT CONCERNING THE STORAGE OF A PISTOL OR REVOLVER IN A MOTOR VEHICLE.

I urge you to favorably vote; S.B. 940, H.B. 5227, H.B. 5870 out of the Judiciary Committee and oppose; S.B. 60, H.B. 7218, H.B. 7219, H.B. 7223.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

[YOUR TOWN]