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Bill Would Require Reporting Of Guns Lost, Stolen
March 10, 2004
By MARK SPENCER, Courant Staff Writer
Gun owners would be required to report the loss or theft of their weapons to the police within three days under a legislative proposal aimed at stemming the flow of firearms to criminals.
The measure is aimed at those who purchase guns legally, then sell them to people who are ineligible to own a gun. When police recover such guns in connection to a crime and trace them to the legal owner, they often hear the same refrain: It was stolen.
Law enforcement officials told the judiciary committee Monday that the lack of a reporting requirement provides a loophole that disreputable gun owners can exploit.
Police Chiefs James J. Strillacci of West Hartford and Anthony Salvatore of Cromwell joined a group of Democratic and Republican legislators before the judiciary hearing to endorse the proposal.
State Sen. Andrew McDonald, a Stamford Democrat and co-chairman of the committee, said the law would emphasize that gun owners have a responsibility to know the whereabouts of their weapons at all times.
Lisa Labella, co-executive director of the Connecticut Collaborative for Education Against Gun Violence, said federal statistics show that 88 percent of guns found at crime scenes were originally purchased from licensed dealers by someone other than the person using it in the crime.
Pro gun groups have several objections to the proposal, although it appears a compromise can be reached that would clear the way for approval in this session, which ends in May.
Robert T. Crook, director of the Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen, said he wants assurances that officials cannot prosecute gun owners who inadvertently fail to report a theft within the time limit. He cited the example of a gun owner who goes on vacation and returns to find his house burglarized.
"We have to fight it if there's no protection for the average citizen," Crook said.
Supporters of the bill said those concerns probably can be accommodated.
Pro gun groups also want less stringent penalties for a first-time violation of the law, although both sides agree that repeat violations should be classified as felonies.
The proposal calls for a fine of $500 for anyone who fails to report a stolen gun. Those who intentionally fail to report face up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
Strillacci and Salvatore, of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, said they opposed weakening the penalties.
"The penalty has to be something that gets your attention," Strillacci said.
But state Rep. Michael Lawlor, an East Haven Democrat and co-chair of the judiciary committee, said his primary goal is to pass a law requiring thefts be reported, and he is willing to discuss the penalty.
http://www.ctnow.com/news/local/hc-stolenguns0310.artmar10,1,3662208.story?coll=hc-headlines-local
March 10, 2004
By MARK SPENCER, Courant Staff Writer
Gun owners would be required to report the loss or theft of their weapons to the police within three days under a legislative proposal aimed at stemming the flow of firearms to criminals.
The measure is aimed at those who purchase guns legally, then sell them to people who are ineligible to own a gun. When police recover such guns in connection to a crime and trace them to the legal owner, they often hear the same refrain: It was stolen.
Law enforcement officials told the judiciary committee Monday that the lack of a reporting requirement provides a loophole that disreputable gun owners can exploit.
Police Chiefs James J. Strillacci of West Hartford and Anthony Salvatore of Cromwell joined a group of Democratic and Republican legislators before the judiciary hearing to endorse the proposal.
State Sen. Andrew McDonald, a Stamford Democrat and co-chairman of the committee, said the law would emphasize that gun owners have a responsibility to know the whereabouts of their weapons at all times.
Lisa Labella, co-executive director of the Connecticut Collaborative for Education Against Gun Violence, said federal statistics show that 88 percent of guns found at crime scenes were originally purchased from licensed dealers by someone other than the person using it in the crime.
Pro gun groups have several objections to the proposal, although it appears a compromise can be reached that would clear the way for approval in this session, which ends in May.
Robert T. Crook, director of the Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen, said he wants assurances that officials cannot prosecute gun owners who inadvertently fail to report a theft within the time limit. He cited the example of a gun owner who goes on vacation and returns to find his house burglarized.
"We have to fight it if there's no protection for the average citizen," Crook said.
Supporters of the bill said those concerns probably can be accommodated.
Pro gun groups also want less stringent penalties for a first-time violation of the law, although both sides agree that repeat violations should be classified as felonies.
The proposal calls for a fine of $500 for anyone who fails to report a stolen gun. Those who intentionally fail to report face up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
Strillacci and Salvatore, of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, said they opposed weakening the penalties.
"The penalty has to be something that gets your attention," Strillacci said.
But state Rep. Michael Lawlor, an East Haven Democrat and co-chair of the judiciary committee, said his primary goal is to pass a law requiring thefts be reported, and he is willing to discuss the penalty.
http://www.ctnow.com/news/local/hc-stolenguns0310.artmar10,1,3662208.story?coll=hc-headlines-local
