Legislative Update from Coalition of CT Sportsmen

 

ALERT: Our information indicates this bill  HB-5054 AN ACT PROTECTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. OPPOSE  will be debated today! Probably this evening and into the morning. Your IMMEDIATE input to legislators OPPOSING the Bill is essential! We also expect multiple amendments to be called on the bill. Contact with legislators indicates some of our concerns may be addressed in a Substitute bill including 1. A  shorter time frame for a hearing (7 days) We preferred 3 days;  2. Possible revisions to transfers to Police, FFLs, AND to individuals qualified to receive (the latter eliminated from the this bill previously authorized under the Risk Warrant statute) a possible revision to transfers of Registered AR-15 and other registered firearms which would not be able to be transferred back to owners constituting a "Taking";  3. Some State Police procedure to Immediate pistol permit reinstatement when the TRO is finalized.  4. Prosecution for perjury for those making false accusations in their affidavit. NONE of these may be included in the Substitute bill! These were only some of our concerns. WE continue to OPPOSE the bill even if these corrections are made! YOUR INPUT IS ESSENTIAL!   DO IT NOW! See How to Find Your Legislators below:
 HB-5054 AN ACT PROTECTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. OPPOSE  Would require the recipient of an ex parte temporary restraining order to surrender their firearms to the police or a licensed dealer . This ex parte order, which strips the accused of their Second Amendment rights, would be issued by a judge based solely on a brief statement of an accuser and before the accused can appear in court to defend themselves against the allegations.  Often these orders come with no allegations of criminal behavior.  HB 5054 clearly goes against an individual’s right to due process and presents a real threat to gun owners across Connecticut. Should a respondent be actually shown to have imminent violent tendencies towards the applicant, the risk warrant statute (Section 29-38c, C.G.S.) which has been in effect for over a decade has worked, although that statute needs the above improvements. HB 5054 restraining order under Section 46b-15 is issued ex parte, based on a brief statement made under oath by a spouse and signed by a judge.  It is important to note that there is no investigation, no evidence or documentation presented, and the case is not reviewed by anyone prior to being signed by a single judge. All due process rights to a hearing prior to gun confiscation are removed from the existing statute.  A respondent who gets served with a restraining order, and happens to be a legal firearms owner, must then relinquish his or her pistol permit and all guns and ammunition immediately.  In other words, the respondent against whom the restraining order is issued is presumed guilty without an opportunity to be heard first.  Also note that no applicant for a restraining order has ever, to anyone’s knowledge, been prosecuted for perjury for making false accusations in their affidavit.  Even worse, in 2014 half of the applications for a temporary restraining order never became permanent orders because the applicant never even showed up at the hearing to support his/her case.  So, the firearms owner must relinquish his legally possessed firearms on the unsubstantiated word of one person. Immediately, and without notice, turning a lawful citizen into a suspected criminal just on the accusation of one allegedly aggrieved person whose veracity has not been tested, is punitive in nature and against all principles of due process.  Unsupported accusations resulting in depriving lawful citizens of their rights and property have no place in American jurisprudence.

LEGISLATION:

Bill Status:
READ THE FILE. That is what will be debated. Read the Fiscal Note and Bill Analysis

Reading the bill: Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is NEW (Indicated at the first part of the para), it is not underlined.

It is also imperative you know & contact your own legislators providing your Support/Opposition and requesting their
Support/Opposition for the bill. Ask them also to co-sponsor positive bills.

How to Find Your Legislators: https://cga.ct.gov/#  CT General Assembly Home Page: http://www.cga.ct.gov/  

2016 Regular Session Convened: February 3, 2016 Adjourns:  May 4, 2016

SB-139   AN ACT CONCERNING THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO ESTABLISH A TROUT STAMP. SUPPORT.  Public Hearing 02/24  Joint Favorable Substitute (ENV) 3/16/2016. File Number 365. (Must Read-Additional items including Pheasant Program!) Senate Calendar Number 257. Referred by Senate to Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding. Favorable Report.

SB-136    AN ACT REGULATING THE USE OF JETTED ARTICULATED VESSELS AND CERTAIN
WATER SKIING DEVICES.Public Hearing 02/24  3/4/2016 (ENV) Joint Favorable Substitute. File No. 124 [pdf] Referred by Senate to Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding. Favorable Report. No New File.

SB-81   AN ACT CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF CERTAIN AREAS OF THE HOUSATONIC RIVER AS A WILD AND SCENIC RIVER.  SUPPORT. Public Hearing 02/11 2/24/2016 (ENV) Joint Favorable. File Number 30. Senate Calendar Number 75.

HB-5054 AN ACT PROTECTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. OPPOSE(Must Read). Public Hearing 03/14. Joint Favorable. House Calendar Number 370. File Number 602
Connecticut: Bill that Violates Due Process Scheduled for Hearing. Dem Lawmakers, Malloy Renew Push To Take Guns Away From Those Accused of Domestic Violence  A Nasty Political Wedge in Connecticut (Must Read). NRA: Connecticut: Two Anti-Gun Bills Pass Committee and Head to House Floor (Must Read).

HB-5315  AN ACT CONCERNING THE PREVENTION OF THE HABITUATION OF POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ANIMALS, THE POSTING OF INFORMATIONAL NOTICES CONCERNING ENCOUNTERS WITH WILDLIFE AND THE STATUS OF SNAPPING TURTLES UNDER STATE LAW. SUPPORT.  Public Hearing 02/24. 3/4/2016 (ENV) Joint Favorable. File No. 114 [pdf House Calendar Number 108.    State Seeks To Ban Feeding Bears, Coyotes On Private Land  House Passed as Amended by House Amendment Schedule A. Senate Calendar Number 51

HB-5316  AN ACT CONCERNING SPORT FISHING LICENSES FOR ANGLERS WHO ARE SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER. SUPPORT. Public Hearing 02/24. Committee Deadline. NO ACTION.

HB-5384  AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR THE TURN IN POACHERS AND LOBSTER RESTORATION PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. SUPPORT. Public Hearing 03/04. Committee Deadline. NO ACTION.

HB-5408  AN ACT CONCERNING THE PRESENTATION OF A CARRY PERMIT. Public Hearing 03/03.  3/10/2016 (PS)  Joint Favorable Substitute. File Number 240  3/29/2016  House Calendar Number 183. 
Gun proposal sparks new debate  Gun Bill Pits Law Enforcement Against Second Amendment Advocates   Public Safety & Security Committee March 3rd Public Hearing   "Open-Carry": Enforcement of General Statutes § 29-35 (b) as Amended in 2015     Bill That Gives Law Enforcement Ability To Ask for Gun Permit Headed To House  Gun proposal sparks new debate

HB-5409  AN ACT CONCERNING APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR A TEMPORARY STATE PERMIT TO CARRY A PISTOL OR A REVOLVER. SUPPORT. Public Hearing 03/03.  3/10/2016 (PS)  Joint Favorable Substitute.
File Number 241 House Calendar Number 184.

HB-5578   AN ACT PROHIBITING THE SALE AND TRADE OF IVORY AND RHINOCEROS HORN. OPPOSE. Public Hearing 03/11. 3/16/2016 (ENV)  Joint Favorable Substitute  House Calendar Number 283. File Number 418

HB-5582  AN ACT CONCERNING THE PRIVATE LAND REVOLVER HUNTING PERMIT. SUPPORT. Public Hearing 03/11. 3/16/2016 (ENV)  Joint Favorable Substitute. File Number 362 House Calendar Number 256. [See Amendment]

HB-5597   AN ACT PROTECTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS SEEKING RESTRAINING ORDERS. SUPPORT. Public Hearing 03/14. Joint Favorable. House Calendar Number 391. File Number 611.

SB-20   AN ACT CONCERNING CARRYING A FIREARM WHILE INTOXICATED OR UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. SUPPORT. Public Hearing 03/03.  3/10/2016 (PS)  Joint Favorable Substitute. File Number 254  Senate Calendar Number 199. Referred by Senate to Committee on Judiciary. No New File. Senate Passed On Consent Calendar. House Calendar Number 450.

SB-137  AN ACT CONCERNING THE SUSPENSION OF A HUNTING OR FISHING LICENSE FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR, PAY OR PLEA IN A HUNTING OR FISHING VIOLATION CASE. SUPPORT. Public Hearing 02/24. 3/4/2016  (ENV) Joint Favorable Substitute. File No. 125 [pdf] Senate Calendar Number 138. Referred by Senate to Committee on Government Administration and Elections. Joint Favorable. Referred by Senate to Committee on Judiciary. No New File.

H.B.- 5622 AN ACT CONCERNING THE AVAILABILITY OF ERASED RECORDS IN DETERMINING WHETHER A PERSON IS A SUITABLE PERSON TO CARRY A PISTOL OR REVOLVER. OPPOSE. Public Hearing 03/14. NO ACTION.

SB-227  AN ACT CONCERNING CECIL'S LAW. OPPOSE. Public Hearing 03/04. 3/16/2016 (ENV) Joint Favorable Substitute. Senate Calendar Number 288.  File Number 430 Senate Adopted Senate Amendment Schedule A 3898. Referred by Senate to Committee on Judiciary. Joint Favorable. No New File. 
Namibia BANS HUNTING BANS!  Lion Kill Fest: The Impact of the HSUS Ideology Banning trophy hunting will damage conservation more than help it in sub-Saharan Africa Trophy hunting ban: Conservancies put at disadvantage   A Hunting Ban Saps a Village’s Livelihood   Trophy hunting contributes more to the conservation of wildlife in South Africa than any conservation fees or other tourism incentives

HB 5623 AN ACT CONCERNING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, ACCESS TO MARSHALS, AND VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. OPPOSE FIREARMS SECTIONS.  Public Hearing 03/14. Joint Favorable Substitute. House Calendar Number 368. File Number 597. 

ADDED H.B. No. 5344 AN ACT CONCERNING SUPPORT FOR ANIMALS THAT ARE NEGLECTED OR TREATED CRUELLY.  OPPOSE. Public Hearing Judiciary 02/24. Joint Favorable. House Calendar Number 362.  File Number 591. Provides legal representation for animals. Establishes quasi - personhood to animals. Could affect hunting/hunting dogs. See amendments. House Passed as Amended by House Amendment Schedule A. Applies ONLY to cats & dogs. Senate Calendar Number 520

Session Ends May 4.. COMMUNICATE YOUR VIEWS & POSITIONS! 

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