Connecticut: House to Vote on Gun Control

The Connecticut state House of Representatives is likely to vote soon on gun control legislation that would essentially ban the hobby of building firearms and ban common firearm modifications.  Please contact your state Representative and urge them to OPPOSE House Bills 5540 and 5542.  Click the “Take Action” button below to contact your state Representative.  In addition, you may click here to find your state Representative.

House Bill 5540, sponsored by Representative William Tong (D-147), would essentially end the centuries old practice of manufacturing firearms for personal use by imposing requirements that far exceed those in federal law.  The bill language is so broad that nearly any solid, raw materials could also be considered a “firearm.”  Manufacturing or transferring a “firearm” without a serial number would be a Class C felony with a mandatory sentence of at least two years imprisonment and a fine of $5000.  It would require serial numbers be applied to “firearms” in a manner requiring equipment that hobbyists do not usually have or can afford, and that federal regulations only require from licensed manufacturers.  It also imposes a requirement that firearms made from plastic contain an arbitrary steel alloy that has no effect on the detectability.  Federal law already mandates that firearms contain a certain amount of metal content.

House Bill 5542, requested by Governor Dannel Malloy and co-sponsored by Representative Fred Camillo (R-151), would ban any firearm parts or accessories that mechanically increase the rate of fire of a firearm in any way.  The broad and overreaching provisions of this bill could criminalize firearm modifications commonly done by law-abiding gun owners to make their firearms more suitable for self-defense, competition, hunting, or even overcoming disability.

Again, please click the “Take Action” button above to contact your state Representative and urge them to OPPOSE HBs 5540 and 5542.  In addition, you may click here to find your state Representative.