CONNECTICUT

06/15/2005
Connecticut Sportsmen Make Progress in 2005, Begin Preparation for Next Session
(From: http://www.statesportsmenslink.org/news/index.tpl?ID=44)
Members of the Connecticut Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus urged support for several pro-sportsman bills and worked to defeat many that would restrict the activities of men and women enjoying a day out in the field. The Caucus worked to pass a package of Department of Environmental Protection regulations in April that extends the fall turkey hunting season, allows for trapping of coyotes, establishes a "Bonus Buck" program that allows sportsmen who check three antlerless deer to obtain an either-sex tag for use in the same season and clarifies the non-toxic shot regulations according to federal standards. The Caucus was also proud to win a fierce battle over a ban on .50 caliber firearms and numerous other restrictions that would apply to the use and possession of traditional hunting rifles and shotguns. These anti-gun proposals included Senate Bill 1029, a ban on private transfers without government permits, and another bill that would mandate universal registration of long guns.

Two boating bills passed the General Assembly, House Bill 5615, which increases the penalties for refusal to submit to a motorboat sound test, and House Bill 6760, legislation that prohibits persons with suspended or revoked safe boating certificates from operating a motor boat and establishes a penalty for evading law enforcement officers while driving a boat.

Though the General Assembly handled several sportsmen’s related bills, many in Connecticut kept their attention on eight different bills dealing with Sunday hunting. House Bill 5593 was introduced by Caucus Co-Chairman Representative Linda A. Orange (D - Colchester), and would have allowed Sunday hunting after Thanksgiving Day on private lands with the written permission of the landowner. Another Sunday hunting bill, House Bill 5588, would have allowed for bow hunting on municipally owned land on Sundays. Both bills failed to pass out of committee before the joint favorable deadline of April 1. However, the Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen, a local group that works with the Connecticut Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, noted that the state DEP endorsed Sunday hunting as a needed management tool for the first time in 2005, and reports that it will be priority legislation next year thanks in part to the DEP’s support.

"In effect, The Connecticut General Assembly treaded water this year. We sometimes measure success in our state by preventing anti-sportsmen initiatives from going forward," stated Caucus Treasurer and Representative Richard F. Ferrari (R - East Granby). "We were able to derail some detrimental bills to sportsmen this session, while at the same time promoting some positive, pro-sportsmen legislation."

Senate Bill 714:
SB 714 in Connecticut was heard in the Public Safety Committee in Hartford, CT on February 15th, 2005. This bill will put into place an immediate ban on the sale, possession or transfer of any .50 BMG rifles in the state of Connecticut. Though the bill was heard on the 15th only one person other than the author spoke in favor of the bill. Representatives against the bill include the National Rifle Association (NRA), CT Coalition of Sportsmen, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). FCI has provided informational packets to all 23 members of the joint Public Safety committee and many others. We have been in direct communication on a daily basis with all the gun rights lobbyists in that state. We have a lot of good things going for us on this bill and I'm confident we will not lose.

Update March 17, 2005:
On March 15th SB 714 did not make it out of the Public Safety Committee in the time proscribed and the bill is now effectively dead for the remainder of this legislative session.

Senate Bill 1133:
On February 24, a public hearing on the State Police Omnibus Anti-Gun Bill was held before the Public Safety Committee. The bill, now referred to as SB 1133, includes a ban on the private sale of long guns, and strict liability that would apply to any one person or
manufacturer "transferring" a firearm. This strict liability provision is designed only to invite increased legal exposure and more frivolous lawsuits against private citizens and the firearms industry.

Additionally, SB 1133 would give the authorities increased ability to permanently deem an individual a "person prohibited" from possessing firearms. Also pending in that committee was SB 714, which would ban the sale of .50 caliber rifles. The committee could vote on these measures at any time. It is critical that NRA members contact members of the committee, as well as your own lawmakers, and urge them to oppose ALL of the bills cited above and ANY gun-related bills that come before the Public Safety Committee. We also encourage you to contact members of Connecticut's Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus and ask them to oppose these measures. For a list of caucus or committee members and their phone numbers, please contact the NRA-ILA's Grassroots Division at (800) 392-8683.

Update March 17, 2005:
March 15th was the final JF day for the Public Safety and Security Committee. The only bill concerning gunowners that survived was Raised S.B. No. 1133 AN ACT REVISING STATUTES RELATIVE TO FIREARMS. To modify the definition of "firearm" for purposes of title 53a of the general statutes, to define "transfer" of a firearm, to conform the blood/alcohol ratio for the carrying of a firearm while under the influence of intoxicating liquor to the same standard as the offense of driving while under the influence and to prohibit the possession of firearms and issuance of a permit to carry a pistol or revolver to any person adjudicated as mentally ill or committed to a mental institution.

Most of the bill was deleted except provisions concerning dealing with NICS and reporting persons adjudicated mentally incompetent to purchase or permitted to possess/carry firearms.

Essentially, this bill will disallow a mentally prohibited person in CT from purchasing a firearm in another state or vice versa by inclusion into the NICS system. The bill was aJFS (Joint Favorable Substitute) to Judiciary Committee.

All other Public Safety Gun bills are DEAD.

Local Contact Group: Coalition of Sportsmen.