Connecticut: Gun Control Bills Move as Deadline Approaches

Tonight, the Connecticut state Senate will be voting on House Bill 5542 to ban many common firearm modifications.  The state House of Representatives previously passed HB 5542 on May 1^st.  With the May 9^th adjournment deadline approaching, anti-gun legislators in Connecticut are in a final push to pass this bill as well as House Bill 5540 to essentially end the hobby making of firearms.  Please contact your state Senator to OPPOSE HBs 5540 and 5542 and your state Representative to OPPOSE HB 5540.  Click the “Take Action” button below to contact your state legislators.  In addition, you may click here to find your state legislators.

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 urge your state Senator to OPPOSE HBs 5540 and 5542 as well as urge your state Representative to OPPOSE HB 5540.  In addition, you may click here to find your state legislators.