HARTFORD, Conn. -- State lawmakers have dropped language from a firearms
safety bill that would have required the buyers of rifles, not just handguns,
to get permits for their purchases.
The safety bill would mandate that people report any stolen or missing guns,
in order to better track firearms in Connecticut.
The legislature's Judiciary Committee decided to scrap the rifle registration
language from the bill to concentrate on passing a law on stolen or missing
guns, said state Rep. Robert Farr, R-West Hartford, a member of the committee.
"That's the really important issue. It will give law enforcement an
additional tool to track firearms," he said on Monday. "Most of the
guns used in crimes had been bought legally but then are taken and used in
crimes. The proposal about registering all firearms is a little more difficult
an issue."
Gun control advocates, who spoke in favor of the registration requirement at
the Capitol earlier this month, said they will continue to push for passage of
laws requiring permits for rifles, shotguns and other long guns.
"We'll come back for the registration, because it's a gaping loophole in
our gun laws," said Lisa Labella, director of Connecticut Against Gun
Violence, a Fairfield group.
The amended bill will go to the House of Representatives, then be referred to
the legislature's Public Safety Committee for further review. A similar bill
requiring reporting of missing weapons died last year in the legislature.
Under the revised bill, anyone who fails to report a stolen or missing firearm
within 72 hours after the person "knew or should have known of such theft
or loss" could be fined up to $500.
People found to have deliberately broken this law could be charged with a
misdemeanor for first offense and a felony for subsequent offense.
The proposal also requires anyone who trades or sells more than 10 guns a year
to get a special temporary state sales permit from local police.
Sellers must keep accurate records of all sales for at least six years.
The proposal has an exception for gun owners who collect for a hobby or people
who sell all or part of a gun collection.
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Information: The Hartford Courant, http://www.courant.com