The Honorable Richard Blumenthal
30 Lewis Street, Suite 101
Hartford, CT 06103
Fax: (860) 258-6958
March 20, 2012
Dear Senator Blumenthal:
The League of Women Voters of Connecticut requests that you oppose S. 2188, introduced on March 13, 2012--The National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2012. We vigorously oppose legislation that would allow non-residents who have not met Connecticut’s licensing requirements to carry concealed guns into our state. The League supports protection of the health
and safety of citizens through regulation of ownership of handguns and semi-automatic weapons.
The League believes that careful regulation and licensing procedures are essential for public
safety.
Under S. 2188, a state’s laws about who can be licensed and carry concealed weapons within the
state would not apply, because the bill would require the states to recognize each other’s carry permits. S. 2188 is unacceptable to the LWVCT, because it would conflict with and undermine current Connecticut permit and licensing gun laws. As you are aware, our state of Connecticut has some of the most stringent gun laws in the country, including a suitability standard. These
laws have broad public support within the state.
Connecticut is a “May-Issue” state, and its law enforcement agencies are not required by law to issue permits to carry handguns to those who are not considered to be suitable persons to possess or carry a handgun. Other states that are “Shall-Issue” or worse still “Unrestricted” have no such provisions, and their citizens would be permitted to carry concealed weapons into our state with no input from law enforcement agents anywhere. Therefore, the possibility exists that some visitors with concealed weapons would have been denied a permit if they were Connecticut residents.
The League of Women Voters of Connecticut and its more than 1800 members strongly urge you to vote against The National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2012. This Act would conflict with Connecticut’s laws for issuing gun permits for the protection of its citizens and would set a dangerous precedent. Thank you for considering this request.
Sincerely,
Naomi Schiff Myers & Alison Rivard
Co-Directors, Social Policy
30 Lewis Street, Suite 101
Hartford, CT 06103
Fax: (860) 258-6958
March 20, 2012
Dear Senator Blumenthal:
The League of Women Voters of Connecticut requests that you oppose S. 2188, introduced on March 13, 2012--The National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2012. We vigorously oppose legislation that would allow non-residents who have not met Connecticut’s licensing requirements to carry concealed guns into our state. The League supports protection of the health
and safety of citizens through regulation of ownership of handguns and semi-automatic weapons.
The League believes that careful regulation and licensing procedures are essential for public
safety.
Under S. 2188, a state’s laws about who can be licensed and carry concealed weapons within the
state would not apply, because the bill would require the states to recognize each other’s carry permits. S. 2188 is unacceptable to the LWVCT, because it would conflict with and undermine current Connecticut permit and licensing gun laws. As you are aware, our state of Connecticut has some of the most stringent gun laws in the country, including a suitability standard. These
laws have broad public support within the state.
Connecticut is a “May-Issue” state, and its law enforcement agencies are not required by law to issue permits to carry handguns to those who are not considered to be suitable persons to possess or carry a handgun. Other states that are “Shall-Issue” or worse still “Unrestricted” have no such provisions, and their citizens would be permitted to carry concealed weapons into our state with no input from law enforcement agents anywhere. Therefore, the possibility exists that some visitors with concealed weapons would have been denied a permit if they were Connecticut residents.
The League of Women Voters of Connecticut and its more than 1800 members strongly urge you to vote against The National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2012. This Act would conflict with Connecticut’s laws for issuing gun permits for the protection of its citizens and would set a dangerous precedent. Thank you for considering this request.
Sincerely,
Naomi Schiff Myers & Alison Rivard
Co-Directors, Social Policy
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