RT NewsTens of thousands of Connecticut residents could soon be considered felons by the state if they continue to ignore restrictive new gun control laws passed last year shortly after an armed rampage at an area elementary school left more than two dozen dead.
Last April, Governor Dannel Malloy signed into law a slew of new firearm restrictions that require, among other items, residents to register powerful assault weapons and high-capacity magazine with the state. Connecticutians had until the end of last year — almost one year to the day after the Sandy Hook elementary school massacre — to license their arsenals. Only a fraction has followed the new law, however, and they could all soon face serious consequences if the state decides to take action.
On Thursday this week, journalist Dan Haar of Connecticut’s The Courant newspaper wrote that state police had received only 47,916 completed registration forms by the end of last year. According to his reporting, that statistic is just a sliver of what it should be.
If the state has received 50,000 registrations by now, Haar wrote, then that could represent as little as 15 percent of the assault weapons now classified by the state as warranting new paperwork under last April’s law.
“No one has anything close to definitive figures, but the most conservative estimates place the number of unregistered assault weapons well above 50,000, and perhaps as high as 350,000,” Harr wrote.
“And that means as of Jan. 1, Connecticut has very likely created tens of thousands of newly minted criminals — perhaps 100,000 people, almost certainly at least 20,000 — who have broken no other laws By owning unregistered guns defined as assault weapons, all of them are committing Class D felonies,” he added.
Other reports out of New England this week suggested that lawmakers there are wrestling with how to handle registration forms that weren’t sent in ahead of the end-of-year deadline and therefore now considered illegal unless officials find a loophole.
“We’re trying to figure a way to accommodate the small number of people. Do we do it legislatively? Can we do it administratively?” Rep. Stephen Dargan, co-chairman of the Public Safety Committee, told the CT News junkie website this week. “Whatever our focus is, it has to be narrow in scope because it might open it up to other people’s concerns.”
As Harr reports, however, officials may have a much larger problem: while an estimated few hundred residents may have sent their registration forms in a day or two past deadline, a group of people estimated to be several times that size reportedly show no interest in submitting applications at all.
“I honestly thought from my own standpoint that the vast majority would register,” said State Sen. Tony Guglielmo (R-Stafford) of the legislature’s public safety committee said to Harr. “If you pass laws that people have no respect for and they don’t follow them, then you have a real problem.”
But even if some Connecticutians find the gun law improper, federal courts have so far said that’s not the case. Late last month United States District Judge Alfred Covello issued a 47-page ruling calling Gov. Malloy’s legislation constitutional, even though it imposed some restrictions on firearm owners.
“While the act burdens the plaintiffs’ Second Amendment rights, it is substantially related to the important governmental interest of public safety and crime control,” Covello ruled.
“While the act burdens the plaintiffs’ Second Amendment rights, it is substantially related to the important governmental interest of public safety and crime control,” Covello ruled.
Where oh where have we heard this before? hmmm? Here’s to those who told the gov where he can stick his “registrations”
Its an infringement clear and simple..do not adhere to a “law” that breaks the rules of our Bill of rights and Constitution..and said “law” is not valid and holds no rule over you
Thus it is NOT a LAW..it is a clear and simple infringement and should be delt with legally and those who enforce it or passed it should be held accountable in a court of law and prosecuted for such infringements , with the punishment saved for ..TRAITORS!
A 47 page ruling….really. 47 pages of what? The 47 page ruling on how to violate the 2nd amendment….that’s what…..I’m happy to hear this information about so many people ingnoring these freaks…..this is a good thing.
hey Funny if your not registered then it doesn’t exist.
Good to hear! Keep up the good work, people of Connecticut! Make sure you have it ingrained in your heads to defy that unconstitutional law each and every day.
Don’t let them get your guns and NEVER register them not even for a gift card or a Scooby snack.
Americans everywhere support you 100%! Never forget that.
““I honestly thought from my own standpoint that the vast majority would register,” said State Sen. Tony Guglielmo (R-Stafford) of the legislature’s public safety committee said to Harr. “If you pass laws that people have no respect for and they don’t follow them, then you have a real problem.””
Gee…really, ya think?
Well now, Tony Guglielmo (R-Stafford), You definitely have a real problem. You and yours will be the first to know if people out there have guns or not when tshf. The sign? High velocity lead flying around. Particularly in YOUR direction.
““We’re trying to figure a way to accommodate the small number of people. Do we do it legislatively? Can we do it administratively?” Rep. Stephen Dargan, co-chairman of the Public Safety Committee, told the CT News junkie website this week.”
A small number of people? BAHAAHAHAHAA!!!! ROLMFAO!!!
350,000 unregistered people is A LOT bigger than 47,916 registered people the last time I checked.
Hmm…Maybe they are using the new Communist Math book like they are using the new Communist Dictionary. 😉 Maybe these new books are supposed to supplement the Communist Core curriculum that they are also trying to shove down the people’s throats.
“after an armed rampage at an area elementary school left more than two dozen dead.”
Hahaha!!! MSM’s still trying to promote that Sandy Hoax thing again.
Hey NC, did you see they’re about to erect a “memorial” for the Boston smoke-bombing “victims”? Opening on the anniversary! 😀
Screw this “law”- ALL unconstitutional “laws” are NULL and VOID the moment they are passed! I live in the former “Constitution State”, will NEVER register a weapon I am not willing to have stolen by the Government. What the State of Connecticut does not know I own without a WARRANT based upon PROBABLE CAUSE for a search of my premises will not hurt me! Buy you guns from private parties with CASH, have your friends act as “straw” buyers with CASH, or simply do what the illegal aliens do and get a fake ID and buy with CASH. DON’T put yourself through the NCIS, the ATF has been caught repeatedly creating illegal gun registries. We are ALL either FREE MEN or SLAVES- what are you willing to live as?