ILA | Pandemic Exposes Dangers of Severe Gun Controls in Connecticut and D.C.

Gun News

[ad_1]

Gun owner licensing and registration, “universal” background checks, and restrictions on the sale of ammunition. Gun owners have been told again and again that these are sensible measures that empower the government to ensure that firearms don’t end up in the wrong hands. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has made clear that when governments are incapable or unwilling to perform the gun control measures for which they have been tasked, law-abiding citizens end up being denied their Second Amendment rights in total.

More than a decade after the Second Amendment rights of District of Columbia residents were secured in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case D.C. v. Heller, the federal enclave has once again foreclosed access to protected arms.  

On March 24, 2020, Mayor Muriel Bowser issued Mayor’s Order 2020-053, which ordered all non-essential businesses to close. The order did not designate federal firearms licensees (FFLs) as essential.

D.C. does not typically have firearms dealers that keep an inventory of firearms for sale. Further, federal law prohibits interstate handgun sales. Therefore, in order for a District resident to acquire a handgun, they must purchase the handgun in another jurisdiction and have it sent to a D.C. FFL. The FFL will then process the transfer and complete the paperwork necessary to comply with the District’s firearm registration regime (which also acts as a licensing and background check system). Private transfers of handguns must also take place through an FFL.

Without access to the services of D.C.-based FFLs, District residents are unable to acquire the very handguns that were at issue in the Heller case.

The problem facing Connecticut residents is different, but no less problematic. 

On March 20, Governor Ned Lamont issued Executive Order 7h. The order permitted firearms and ammunition retailers to stay open during the ongoing pandemic. On March 26, the governor issued Executive Order 7N , which limited firearms transactions to appointment only. 

Under Connecticut state law an individual seeking to acquire a firearm must obtain a permit to carry pistols and revolvers, an eligibility certificate to purchase a pistol or revolver, or an eligibility certificate to purchase long guns. Worse, such a permit or certificate is required to purchase ammunition in the state.

The permitting process in Connecticut is arduous and time-consuming. During normal times, the process for obtaining a permit to carry can take 8 weeks. For a pistol eligibility certificate, the issuing authority has 90 days to review an application. The average processing time for the permit and eligibility certificates has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and effectively cut off prospective gun buyers’ access to firearms and ammunition during this time of uncertainty.

The permit to carry a pistol or revolver process is particularly byzantine. A person’s permit must first be approved by their local law enforcement (the part that can take up to 8 weeks). If approved, the individual is granted a temporary pistol permit that is good for 60 days. Within that 60 days, the person must then take the temporary permit and other paperwork to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection​ Division of the State Police for review in order to obtain their state permit to carry a pistol or revolver.

Citing COVID-19, the state has suspended the DESPP’s pistol permit service. The governor extended the period of time for which a temporary permit is valid to 150 days. However, a temporary pistol permit cannot be used to purchase a firearm.

Barriers to the peaceful exercise of a constitutional right are always bad policy. During a time of crisis in which governments cannot be counted upon to carry out their duties, such policies leave law-abiding citizens defenseless.​

[ad_2]

Source link

Articles You May Like

Gen Z Rep. Justin J. Pearson on Gun Violence, Activism and Being a Young Legislator
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tries to sneak through his signature on the transgender bathroom bill: Today in Ohio
Letter: There are issues that can’t be left to Alberta politicians
Women challenge Pa. Firearms Act | News, Sports, Jobs
Black Friday Sales Show America Still Loves Its Firearms

22 Comments

  1. 652773 474194Hi this is somewhat of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or should you need to manually code with HTML. Im starting a blog soon but have no coding expertise so I wanted to get guidance from someone with experience. Any aid would be greatly appreciated! 733754

  2. 59190 794643Aw, this was a actually good post. In concept I wish to put in writing like this additionally ?taking time and actual effort to make an exceptional post?however what can I say?I procrastinate alot and by no indicates appear to get something done. 17223

  3. 321499 721342You made some very first rate factors there. I seemed on the internet for the difficulty and located a lot of people will go along with together with your site. 756344

  4. 857860 844737Aw, i thought this was an incredibly very good post. In notion I would like to invest writing in this way moreover – taking time and actual effort to manufacture a really good article but exactly what do I say I procrastinate alot and no means apparently go completed. 790395

  5. 670258 899627Superb post but I was wanting to know should you could write a litte much more on this topic? Id be quite thankful if you could elaborate a little bit a lot more. Thanks! 118753

  6. 877159 646687A person necessarily lend a hand to make severely posts Id state. This is the very very first time I frequented your internet page and to this point? I surprised with the analysis you created to make this particular submit extraordinary. Magnificent process! 469464

  7. 78653 384152Id need to have to verify with you here. Which is not one thing I normally do! I take pleasure in reading a submit that will make individuals believe. Moreover, thanks for permitting me to remark! 206956

  8. 492694 977322Top rated lad speeches and toasts, as nicely toasts. could really effectively be supplied taken into consideration making at the party consequently required to be just a little more cheeky, humorous with instructive on top of this. finest man speeches funny 62465

  9. 939062 326078Wow! This could be one specific of the most useful blogs Weve ever arrive across on this subject. Basically Outstanding. Im also an expert in this topic therefore I can understand your effort. 220045

  10. 938238 17436I ran into this page accidentally, surprisingly, this is a fantastic website. The internet site owner has done an excellent job writing/collecting articles to post, the info here is genuinely insightful. You just secured yourself a guarenteed reader. 388972

  11. 288096 232319 Nice post. I learn something a lot more challenging on different blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice just a little something from their store. Id prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you dont mind. Natually Ill give you a link on your web weblog. Thanks for sharing. 716137

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *