Last night, the Connecticut General Assembly adjourned from its 2022 Regular Session. This year, NRA Members and Second Amendment supporters worked hard to contact their legislators on multiple pro-gun and anti-gun measures. Fortunately, several egregious gun control proposals were defeated. Unfortunately, the General Assembly missed an opportunity to pass pro-gun legislation that would have strengthened the right to self-defense and allowed the transfer of certain firearms and magazines.
Pro-Gun Bills Defeated:
Senate Bill 388 strengthened the right to self-defense by creating a presumption that it is reasonable to believe physical force is necessary to defend oneself, or another person, from someone who has unlawfully entered one’s dwelling, place of work or motor vehicle.
House Bill 5412 strengthened the right to self-defense by removing the duty to retreat for a person in a house of religious worship, before using deadly physical force to defend themselves or a third person.
House Bill 5415 allowed the legal transfer of so-called “assault weapons” and “large capacity” magazines between people who already legally possess such firearms or magazines.
Anti-Gun Bills Defeated:
Senate Bill 16 in its original form, was an omnibus gun control bill that expanded the states “assault weapons ban,” modified carry laws, and expanded gun free zones. Many of the egregious gun control proposals within the bill were removed. As amended, SB 16 established a state-wide firearm trafficking crimes and tracing taskforce to enforce laws concerning the distribution and possession of firearms.
House Bill 5416 prohibited the sale, delivery or transfer of more than one pistol or revolver to any individual during a thirty-day period, with limited exceptions. So-called one-gun-a-month schemes ration the Second Amendment rights of citizens, while doing nothing to get illegal guns off our streets. If there is authority to say one gun a month, there will eventually be authority to say none.
Thank you to NRA members and Second Amendment supporters for continuing to contact their lawmakers about the above bills. Stay tuned to NRA-ILA for more information and updates on Second Amendment issues in Connecticut.