Connecticut Gun Control Law Ruled Constitutional, Second Amendment Advocates Will Appeal
Connecticut’s gun control law was ruled Constitutional during a court hearing yesterday. The controversial law which banned high-capacity magazines in the state is not supported by the NRA or Second Amendment gun rights advocates. The gun ban was drafted as a response to the Sandy Hook school shooting tragedy. Governor Dan Malloy singed the Violence Prevention and Children’s Safety Act into law on April 4. Firearms banned in the law include the extremely popular AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.
US District Judge Alfred Covello stated the following in his nearly 50-page decision:
“Some portions of the legislation were not written with the utmost clarity. Several provisions are not impermissibly vague in all of their applications and therefore the challenged portions of the legislation are not unconstitutionally vague. While the act burdens the plaintiffs’ Second Amendment rights, it is substantially related to the important governmental interest of public safety and crime control.”
Brian Stapleton, an attorney for Connecticut gun rights groups, said the Second Amendment advocates will appeal the gun control ruling. “This is a disappointing decision, but not entirely surprising. This is a long way from over.”
The Connecticut gun control law requires all residents to register any firearm that the state now deems an “assault weapon.” Anyone caught with an unregistered semi-automatic weapon has committed a felony under the new state statute.
“You can either surrender the weapon to us, destroy the weapon or sell it to a federal firearms licensee,” Michael Lawlor, the governor’s criminal policy liason, told NBCConnecticut.com. “After that date anything that hasn’t been declared or registered is banned and if you get caught you’re going to get arrested.”
Connecticut also recently became the fourth state to require a license to purchase ammunition when a law that carries a $35 fee went into effect this month. Connecticut joined Illinois, Massachusetts and New Jersey as well as the District of Columbia in implementing a law that many gun rights advocates consider a back-door attempt to limit Second Amendment rights. The Connecticut law calls the license a “certificate.”
Gun stores owners in the state are reportedly faced with confused and irritated customers who do not agree with the new ammunition certificate law – some of whom know nothing about it until they get to the counter. The license is good for ammunition only. Purchasing a gun involves a more extensive process. Gun owners with a valid carry permit aren’t required to purchase the ammo certificate. The bullets and magazines certificates must be renewed every five years.
[Image Via CBS News]
