Subject: Rep. Rob Sampson letter/op-ed on Bill S.B. 1094
As I campaigned for office last year I talked to a lot of folks concerned about the federal government’s slow but steady encroachment into our lives.
But here in Connecticut, that overreach from elected officials is more aggressive.
Our roster of legislative action this year is rife with reactionary proposals—many of them thinly veiled attempts to pursue personal agendas far adrift of the needs and opinions of the men and women whose tax dollars cover their salaries and benefits.
For an example, look no further than the Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday on S.B. 1094, An Act Banning Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines.
This proposal seeks to ban the sale of ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 bullets, and it would require law-abiding citizens who already own such magazines to turn them over to authorities—or risk a felony charge and prison time.
The bill’s proponents will say their goal is to protect residents from gun-wielding criminals driven to commit murder. To make their point, they’ll resuscitate hysteria generated by headline grabbing police cases in other parts of the country—crimes driven by the perpetrator’s frame of mind and motivations rather than a gun.
People who commit such crimes are criminals and criminals, by definition, don’t care about laws. A person bent on shooting another won’t be deterred by an arbitrary—the 10 bullet limit—restriction shackled on the rights of law-abiding citizens who understand the responsibilities of gun ownership. If you think criminals will turn in their illegal weapons, then I’ve got a bridge I’d like to sell you.
How will this proposed ban make us safer if law-abiding citizens are the only people who dutifully march down to a police station to hand over their weapons?
It won’t, and the people who wrote and support this proposal know it. Their true target isn’t our guns, but our right to own them. Recent history shows us they’ll continue to attack that right—one proposed bill after another.
This country was built on the principle that its citizens—and not the government—hold the power to control their own lives. The 2nd Amendment clearly states that our right “to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” This is a key protection to our sovereignty as individuals, acknowledging our right to protect ourselves.
That’s a Constitutional right I’m unwilling to give up.
Yesterday, February 10th more than a dozen dedicated CCDL general members and officers made the trip to the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, to attend the Public Safety and Security Committee hearing. There were 10 proposed bills pertaining to gun legislation on the agenda!
Not all of these proposed bills were anti-gun. In fact some were actually written to ease the burden placed on law abiding gun owners in the state. One of these is:
HB 5623 AN ACT AUTHORIZING RENEWAL OF STATE PERMIT TO CARRY A PISTOL OR REVOLVER BY MAIL.
This would make permit renewal much easier for all permit holders. Obviously CCDL testified FOR this and it seemed to be well received by the committee members.
Another good bill on the agenda was,
SB 554 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PISTOL PERMIT APPEALS PROCESS
This would set an absolute time limit on an appeal to the BFPE.
Some of the more onerous proposed bills on the agenda received most of our attention during testimony. HB 5800 and HB 6185 were on the lips of almost everyone of us, as we testified to OPPOSE these bills.
HB 5800 AN ACT REQUIRING REGISTRATION OF ALL FIREARMS.
HB 6185 AN ACT CREATING A GUN OFFENDER REGISTRY
These were just some of 10 proposed bills. CCDL will be watching all of them very carefully and let you know what the outcome is as soon as we have an answer.
We would like to especially thank all of the members that took time off from work, or time out of their busy schedules to attend the hearing and voice their opinions.
We would also like to thank those that could not attend, but did write testimony and had us submit it on their behalf or sent them in via Email.
Remember that these legislators are in Hartford because we voted for them and they are working for us. They need to hear how WE feel about the issues that they deal with on our behalf. Testifying in person, testimony via Email and phone calls are all ways of letting our elected officials know that “We the People” are Involved with the daily process of our government. Lets NEVER let them forget that!
Below are proposed bills that will be heard on Thursday, February 10, 2011, by the Public Safety and Security Committee. We urge all of our members to write testimonies to submit with your stance for each bill. Here is a link for a bill with sample testimonies - http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/CommDocTmy.asp?comm_code=ENV&date=01/31/2011.
See the attached pdf document below the bill details for the general process for bills and Public Hearings in CT.
PUBLIC HEARING 02/10/11---Public Safety Committee
The Public Safety and Security Committee will hold a public hearing on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 10:00 A.M. in Room 2A of the LOB. Please submit 40 copies of written testimony to Committee staff at the time of sign up. Testimony submitted after sign-up may not be distributed until after the hearing. Sign-up for the hearing will begin at 9:00 A.M. in Room 3650 of the LOB. The first hour of the hearing is reserved for Legislators, Constitutional Officers, State Agency Heads and Chief Elected Municipal Elected Officials. Speakers will be limited to three minutes of testimony.
Below are a number of proposed bills that will be heard for testimony Thursday, 02/10.
OPPOSE
HB 5800 AN ACT REQUIRING REGISTRATION OF ALL FIREARMS Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: That section 29-33 of the general statutes be amended to (1) require that (A) any person who purchases a firearm register the firearm within ten days of purchase, (B) any person who purchased a firearm prior to this statute's effective date register that firearm within ten days of the effective date, (C) any person owning a firearm renew registration every five years, and (D) anyone whose registered firearm is sold, stolen or lost report such sale, theft or loss within ten days of such event; and (2) provide that the Department of Public Safety receive the registrations required by subdivision (1) of this section. Statement of Purpose: To require registration of all firearms.
SB 42 AN ACT CONCERNING GUN SAFETY STANDARDS FOR FIRING RANGES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: That chapter 943 of the general statutes be amended to require gun safety standards for any target range that holds a regulatory or business license for the purpose of practicing shooting at that target range. Statement of Purpose: To establish gun safety standards for all firing ranges.
HB 6185 AN ACT CREATING A GUN OFFENDER REGISTRY. Purpose: To require that persons convicted of certain gun crimes register their names and addresses with the local police department for the municipality in which they reside.
SUPPORT
HB 5263 AN ACT AUTHORIZING RENEWAL OF STATE PERMIT TO CARRY A PISTOL OR REVOLVER BY MAIL. Purpose: To permit the holder of a state pistol permit to renew the permit by mail.
HB 5270 AN ACT AUTHORIZING RENEWAL OF STATE PERMIT TO CARRY A PISTOL OR REVOLVER BY MAIL OR BY ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION. Purpose: To permit the holder of a state permit to carry a pistol or revolver to renew said permit by mail or by electronic submission
HB 5643 AN ACT CONCERNING THE CARRYING OF FIREARMS BY OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTS. Purpose: To allow an out-of-state resident who holds a license or permit to carry from another state to carry firearms in this state
SB 547 AN ACT CONCERNING FIREARMS. To revise the applicability of the statute regulating the sale, delivery and transfer of handguns and to modify the definition of "assault weapon.
SB 554 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PISTOL PERMIT APPEALS PROCESS. Purpose To set certain time limits for pistol permit
EPA Considering Ban on Traditional Ammunition: ACT NOW!!
All Gun Owners, Hunters and Shooters:
With the fall hunting season fast approaching, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Lisa Jackson, who was responsible for banning bear hunting in New Jersey, is now considering a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) - a leading anti-hunting organization - to ban all traditional ammunition under the Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976, a law in which Congress expressly exempted ammunition. If the EPA approves the petition, the result will be a total ban on all ammunition containing lead-core components, including hunting and target-shooting rounds. The EPA must decide to accept or reject this petition by November 1, 2010, the day before the midterm elections.
Today, the EPA has opened to public comment the CBD petition. The comment period ends on October 31, 2010.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) -- the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry -- urges you to submit comment to the EPA opposing any ban on traditional ammunition. Remember, your right to choose the ammunition you hunt and shoot with is at stake.
Thank you all who called, wrote and showed up to testify!
H.5158 "An Act Concerning Firearms Regulation" had its most onerous section REMOVED today! That is the section that would require Long Gun Registration and BAN private sales between individuals as is commonly done among gun club members, collectors, family members, etc.
As a result of YOUR calls, emails and the twenty or so people who testified - The State Police Liaison called the Public Safety Committee at the hearing and told Co-Chair Senator Andrea Stillman that they were stripping the Long Gun section from the bill!
Don't Forget To THANK YOUR LEGISLATORS on the Public Safety & Security Committee! Co-Chairman Representative Steve Dargan, Rep. Steve Mikutel, Rep. Penny Bacchiocchi, Rep. Rosa Rebimbas, Rep. Minnie Gonzalez and Rep. Esposito who all either made remarks against the Long Gun Registration, or otherwise established their opposition to this State Police requested bill.
DOs and DONTs of Public Hearings: DO dress well and come early - preferably around 8am
DO sign up along with anyone coming with you
DO give 45 copies of your testimony to the clerk
DO practice and rehearse your spoken testimony before the hearing. Keep it under three minutes
DO sign up your name in the roster just inside the hearing room and indicate whether you OPPOSE or SUPPORT (this case we're OPPOSING Bill # H5158)
DO address the legislators politely and answer questions if asked. If you are not comfortable or prepared to answer a question reply gracefully, "Representative/Senator, I will have to look into your question and get back to you"
DO "PASS" when called to speak if you are uncomfortable or simply wish to move the process along so that the key speaker(s) from your group can get called up faster.
DO register and sign in since even if you are only observing, so the Committee sees your name added to the list of those opposed to the bill. We want to greatly outnumber the bill's supporters.
DO be prepared to spend the entire day, possibly into the evening hours if you intend to speak.
The following audio transcript is pertinent to CT residents with regards to "Due Process" issues related to the denial and appeal process surrounding Pistol Permits.
The CCDL attended this hearing at the Lower Manhattan Courthouse on Sept 17th to show their support for fellow CCDL member, Attorney Rachel M. Baird and both of her clients James Goldberg and Peter Kuck.
A finding in our favor would allow for the original "Due Process" case to be retried in a Connecticut court. A win there would speed up any and all appeals cases to the Board of Firearms Permit Examiners. Thus putting permits back in the hands of law abiding citizens who at this moment have an approximate 19 month wait just to have an appeal hearing.
At approximately 18:35 into the audio, one of the judges states to Assistant Attorney General Gregory D'Auria that what Golberg did was “Perfectly LEGAL”. Response from Gregory D'Auria “Perhaps NOT A CRIME”
Connecticut Citizens Defense League, Inc. 
