As we have been reporting, the anti-gun crowd has redoubled their efforts to pass last year’s proposal to make it a crime to fail to report the loss or theft of a firearm within 72 hours from when you “knew or should have known” of the theft.
This year’s version is outrageous! HB 5818, now includes language that would subject gun owners to criminal investigation and jeopardy of prosecution even if they report the theft because a court will now be given the ability to decide whether the firearm was stored in such a manner that provided “substantial and unjustifiable risk” that it would be stolen.
Even worse, if the police recover the firearm before the gun owner has discovered it missing and made the report, it will be considered automatic evidence of guilt of violation of this proposed law, as well as guilt of an illegal transfer.
Conviction of the “illegal transfer,” which is a felony, would permanently end your right to own a firearm! In response to the large number of phone calls that are coming in from legitimate gun owners, Connecticut Against Gun Violence has put out desperate pleas to the anti-gun crowd asking them to write, e-mail and call lawmakers in an effort to drown out your voice!
If you have not contacted your legislators yet, we urge you to do it today! The Public Safety and Security Committee could consider HB 5818 as early as next week. The Public Safety and Security Committee can be reached at (860) 240-0570. For more information on the Public Safety and Security Committee please go to the following link www.cga.ct.gov/ps/.