- COALITION
OF CONNECTICUT
SPORTSMEN
- P.O.
Box 2506, Hartford, CT 06146, (203) 245-8076
-
- Testimony presented to the PUBLIC SAFETY
Committee (3/11/03)
-
- IN SUPPORT of
H. B. No. 6578
(RAISED) AN ACT MODIFYING THE GROUNDS FOR REFUSAL TO ISSUE
PERMITS TO CARRY A PISTOL OR REVOLVER.
-
- by
Robert T. Crook, Director
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- This bill will eliminate the unlimited period
within which convictions for certain misdemeanors* constitute grounds for
refusal to issue a permit or revoke current permits to carry a pistol or
revolver. It proposes to authorize permit rejection or revocation for
convictions of those misdemeanors only within the preceding five years.
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- When this bill passed we opposed it, testifying it
was not needed based upon the issuing authority's ability to reject for
these offenses on "suitability" criteria. Suitability allows the
issuing authority to reject or revoke for virtually anything, subject to
appeal. All of the permits revoked under this law had been previously
reviewed and approved under suitability by the Issuing Authority/Chief of
Police, they having judged certain of the convictions as not disqualifying.
This law, in effect, has lessened the issuing authority's judgment and
authority and penalized new applicants and previously qualified citizens.
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- This law has to be seriously questioned for balance
when Legislatures are providing convicted felons the right to vote and
restoring other rights through legislation or through the pardon process.
The Pardons Board will not consider Pistol Permit cases.
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- The current law is a continuing penalty for those
who have paid their debt to society for minor offenses and have been
rehabilitated. We would prefer to eliminate this law entirely, since it is
already covered under suitability. Elimination of the entire statute or this
proposal will not preclude the Issuing Authority from rejecting/revoking
permits under suitability criteria, subject to appeal.
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- The 5-year period is not the best solution, but is
a reasonable baseline time frame to replace one undefined.
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- We urge SUPPORT and passage
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- [We changed our testimony to REPEAL this bill rather
than limiting it to a previous five year period. There was NO
OPPOSITION to this bill as written. CCS testified there was NO REDRESS by
the Pardons Board for permits/misdemeanors, but they were pardoning
felons which would reconstitute their civil rights. In effect, anyone who
had one of the misdemeanors could never obtain a permit and those who
previously had permits, approved by the issuing authority who obviously saw
the misdemeanors as not disqualifying but who were revoked under this bill,
could NEVER qualify for a permit. Convicted FELONS therefore have civil
rights priority over those who committed misdemeanors, some as minor as
simple assault or possession of pot. We have messages from several who
committed these offenses up to two decades ago. Is this the meaning of
rehabilitation and payment of debt to society???? There is a distinct
possibility this can be repealed and there would be no legitimate argument
on Reciprocity.]
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- *
- Sec.
21a-279. Penalty for illegal
possession. Alternative sentences.
- Sec.
53a-58. Criminally negligent homicide: Class A misdemeanor.
- Sec.
53a-61. Assault in the third degree: Class A misdemeanor.
Sec. 53a-61a. Assault of an elderly, blind, disabled, pregnant or
mentally retarded person in the third degree: Class A misdemeanor:
- Sec.
53a-62. Threatening: Class A misdemeanor.
Sec.
53a-63. Reckless endangerment in the first degree: Class A misdemeanor.
- Sec.
53a-96. Unlawful restraint in the second degree: Class A misdemeanor
- Sec.
53a-175. Riot in the first degree: Class A misdemeanor.
Sec.
53a-176. Riot in the second degree: Class B misdemeanor.
- Sec.
53a-178. Inciting to riot: Class A misdemeanor
- Sec.
53a-181d. Stalking in the second degree: Class A misdemeanor.