By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
Democrats in the Connecticut House of Representatives this week passed legislation which would ban new semiautomatic pistols which might be converted to fire full-auto, despite overwhelming public opposition last month, reported by the CT Mirror.
While an estimated 1,900 pieces of written testimony opposing the legislation were submitted, the CT Mirror noted, “only 50 people wrote in support of the ban..”
Yet Democrats pushed through the bill 86-64 with 15 Democrats crossing the aisle to vote with Republicans against House Bill 5043. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
According to the Hartford Courant, the legislation was proposed by Democrat Gov. Ned Lamont. It is supposed to “prohibit the future sale” of illegal devices generically called “Glock switches,” because they can be installed to make certain semi-auto pistols fire repeatedly with a single press of the trigger.
The Courant story quoted Republican Rep. Greg Howard, a police officer with more than 20 years on the job and who reportedly owns several Glock pistols, explaining how criminals will find ways to get around the law.
“Human ingenuity is at a place that it never was before,” he said. “Somebody, somewhere is going to find a way…”
While the Courant said Democrats are claiming the bill only applies to handguns manufactured after the legislation would take effect Oct. 1, Constitution State gun owners are mindful of what has happened in neighboring Rhode Island, where last year gun owners were told they could keep previously-owned semi-auto rifles and original-capacity magazines under legislation banning the future manufacture and sale of so-called “assault weapons.” This year, legislation has been introduced to completely ban their possession.
During debate, according to the Courant, Republican Rep. Craig Fishbein—ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee—proposed an amendment allowing a $150 tax credit to gun owners for purchasing a gun safe. But Democrats nixed the idea “saying that it would cost $12 million in a year where recent projections have shown a state budget deficit for the fiscal year that ends on June 30.”
That could create the impression that the legislation is as much about raising money as it is about preventing violent crime. Fishbein had argued that gun owners should not have to pay fees to exercise their constitutionally-protected rights.
Democrats are mindful that the National Rifle Association has sued California for passing similar legislation.
