Connecticut Members: Contact Your Legislators!

Members of the Judiciary Committee approved two gun control measures this week.  Proposed Substitute Bill No. 6657 seeks to make criminals out of crime victims by making it a misdemeanor to fail to report a stolen firearm.  The measure further erodes the ability of licensed firearm`s dealers to hold gun shows while creating new restrictions on who may sell firearms by allowing cities to shut down legal gun stores.  It now heads to the Public Safety Committee. SB 1133 would make it a felony for anyone who has been denied a pistol permit or certificate of eligibility (COE), one of which is necessary in Connecticut to purchase a handgun, to possess ANY firearm.  The bill would require that those individuals who are denied a permit or COE be reported to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) as a "person prohibited" from purchasing and possessing firearms.  Since "suitability" is a factor considered by the issuing authority in Connecticut, then a local police chief could arbitrarily deny an individual a pistol permit or COE without justification, causing the applicant to lose his or her gun rights forever. This bill now heads to the floor.  Please contact members of the Public Safety Committee and urge them to oppose Proposed Substitute Bill 6659.  To get contact information for members please call the NRA Grassroots Division at 800-392-8683 or visit our web site at www.nraila.org.  Also, call your state lawmakers today and respectfully voice your strong opposition to SB 1133!