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Gun Owners' Names, Addresses Could Become Public

A West Haven lawmaker has introduced a bill to make public the names of some 170,000 gun owners in Connecticut.

 

If you own a gun in this state your name and address could become public under a bill introduced in the General Assembly by State Rep. Stephen D. Dargan, D-West Haven.

Dargan filed the proposal in response to the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown that killed 20 children and 6 women on Dec. 14. His proposal would overturn a law passed in Connecticut 20 years ago that keeps private the names and addresses of gun owners.

In an interview with the Hartford Courant, Dargan said he wants gun ownership information to fall under the state's Freedom of Information Act in part so that parents can know whether the parents of their child's friends have guns in their homes.

"Maybe their kids are going over to Johnny Smith's, and maybe they want to see whether they have guns in the house," he told the newspaper.

Dargan's proposal follows another bill that was filed recently that seeks to limit who can own gun ammunition in Connecticut and to keep such ammunition out of the hands of felons. Gun control issues are expected to dominate the General Assembly's winter session, which formally begins next week, in the wake of the Newtown massacre.

Karla Donovan January 7, 2013 at 05:03 pm
Adam, I appreciate your civil and cogent reply!
Karla Donovan January 7, 2013 at 05:08 pm
Adam, I agree that criminals tend to use handguns over rifles, but most gun advocates state that criminals use assault-style rifles, which is why they should not be banned... I support banning assault-style rifles and high capacity magazines and no grandfathering... Hand guns and regular rifles are in compliance with second amendment... FOunding Fathers did not allow cannons and other military equipment which are/were similar in scope as today's assault weapons. They wanted the people to bear arms and be able to form a militia that can fight should e government become tyrannical... They did not want a single citizen to be able to kill large groups at will...
Jlo January 7, 2013 at 08:51 pm
Karla its not too hard to case a house out for a couple days to see when the homeowner leaves and then time your break in for when they are at work or otherwise out of the house. Also its worth noting that they are publishing the addresses of concealed weapons permit holders, that is what you get in order to purchase or carry a handgun. No permit or registration is needed in order to buy a long gun (rifle/shotgun) so even if there was some reason why you had to know exactly who had guns, a list of CCW permitees would cover only a fraction of the households out there. I think the latest figures I saw was around 8 million CCW permits and 300 million firearms so its easy to do the math.
Now no offense to you but asking every one of your friends if they have a gun in the house is a little crazy, you probably won't be getting many party invites going forward;) I can understand asking if you have kids going over, but as long as the owner is responsible and keeps the guns stored safely you really have nothing to worry about.
Jlo January 7, 2013 at 09:07 pm
Karla- The majority of gun deaths are due to handguns, rifles account for only a small percentage. Assault style rifles get a bad rap because they have been used in a few highly publicized shootings, though I'm not sure if there use was because they are really so inherently deadly or because they are one of the most popular weapons in America which just makes it more likely for them to turn up in these situations. Honestly I think a determined killer with a semi auto handgun is just as deadly as one with an AR-15. The Virginia Tech killer carried out the worst school shooting in US history with a Glock and a .22 caliber pistol. For those who don't know guns a .22 caliber pistol is pretty much a pea shooter compared to other weapons available on the market.
SteveObs January 7, 2013 at 09:10 pm
So do you suggest the government just take private property? Do you plan on compensating owners?
Karla Donovan January 7, 2013 at 09:12 pm
I am not necessarily "for" or "against" publishing gun owners names... Probably against it... I am just pointing out my observation, that no matter what anyone tries, gun rights freaks always say that criminals are enabled by said action.
As far as asking friends if there are guns in the house upon receiving an invitation, I will and if they have a problem with that, then I won't go to their house. I don't think it's crazy at all. It doesn't mean that I won't go to their house if they own a gun... My husband used to have a gun. I won't go to a house that has an assault rifle in it. Period. And I have no problem with staying away from any house with an assault rifle... Just my little stand and if it means I lose a friend, then I lose a friend! :) my little stand in memory of the children and teachers killed because of a disturbed young man and his mother who thought it a good idea to keep an assault rifle and lots of ammunition in her house.
Jlo January 7, 2013 at 09:22 pm
So I guess we can't have ladies night at my house anymore...
Karla Donovan January 7, 2013 at 10:31 pm
JLo, haha, not with me if you have an assault rifle... But your friends probably won't care!
happy girl January 7, 2013 at 10:31 pm
Because I believe that a US citizen has the right to bear arms makes me a freak? You're going to ask your "friends" if they have guns, will you ask if they have weird kids, too?
Alethiologist January 8, 2013 at 12:32 am
ok, let's outlaw stolen guns too.
Jlo January 8, 2013 at 02:02 am
Just to follow up my last comment, of 8,583 firearm related homicides in 2011- 6,220 were due to handguns, 356 due to shotguns, and only 323 due to rifles which would include the dreaded "assault style weapons" and also many other less vilified rifles. The balance of the firearm deaths were due to other or unknown types of weapons.
Its also bears noting that knives (1,694), body parts (728), and blunt objects (496) all contributed to more deaths than assault style rifles. Source: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-8
Cliff Cuming January 8, 2013 at 02:09 am
Here is a series of opinions from NYT contributors.
I especially like Ropeik's summary http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/01/06/what-the-fight-over-guns-is-really-about/?ref=opinion
Jlo January 8, 2013 at 02:18 am
Thats an interesting and I suspect highly accurate take on the whole thing.
Jim Eastwood January 8, 2013 at 03:04 am
To All
First this will do nothing to ID the ILLEGAL Firearms---What percentage of killings are Really dne by those---You might be surprised. Second a Gun in the House--A Play Date--Hah Why don'yt you check the driving record of those parents also--Drunken Moms or CELL PHONE Talking Moms driving their Fairfield County SUV's pose a greater risk. Neither side is wrong nor is Neither side right--The answer has to lie in a co-operative effort. Al ready the Media and the Politiciand are "Making Hay" over this--we as a people must solve theissue. Start in tyyour Own House !!!!
ART SAUER January 9, 2013 at 11:50 pm
All this list will accomplish is people will find a way to buy and not register their weapon. This is the stupidest idea put out there. The pepole on the list did the right thing and now are going to pay because of some polititcal jerks idea which will accomplish absolutly nothing. The GERMANS loved the list in WWII they knew right where to go in Europe a lot of people suffered because of that list.
Jlo January 9, 2013 at 11:59 pm
As a local EMT I have picked up many drunken, drugged up, and otherwise crazy soccer moms to be taken to the hospital for detox, mental health treatment, or suicide attempts. One lady we lifted out of a puddle of her own urine and vomit while her embarrassed husband looked on and her kids slept upstairs. The next week I saw a picture of the same lady on Patch, she was dressed to the nines and happily drinking a glass of wine with a bunch of PTA moms at a fundraiser! Should she and others like her be reported somehow? Some of your kids probably play with her children and have been to her house. The point is, where do we stop with this....
Cliff Cuming January 10, 2013 at 12:08 am
KD
I don't think there is an easy answer to this. Gun ownership has long been part of the American experience pre-dating the Constitution. Part of settling a new continent I suppose. It's enshrined in the Bill Of Rights. It would be impossible to 'confiscate' a fraction of the millions of guns out there...and voluntary returns would not put a dent into the inventory; especially those held by criminals. I therefore think bans on certain types of weapons and perhaps the ammo used by them is the only response that might improve upon our sense of security but this too might have only a limited effect on homicides.
Jeff January 11, 2013 at 12:04 am
Exactly tyhe type of narrow minded short sighted thinking that put Connecticut at the bottom of rvry economic list in this country. From our schools and grad rates to jobs leaving the state, there are certainly more pertinent laws that should be well thought out and passed. This only illustrates the types of jerks we have up in Hartford. Resign and come out to the real world you piece of crap.
Not an assault rifle January 11, 2013 at 12:27 am
When are you people going to realize that the shooting in Newtown was NOT done with an assault rifle?
Assault rifles are already illegal in CT.
Karla Donovan January 11, 2013 at 01:01 am
Whatever you may call the Bushmaster Rifle used in the Newtown shootings -- I would like to see the Bushmaster rifle outlawed. Also extended magazine clips. I would like guns that allow large numbers of bullets to be shot without re-loading, in effect, allowing one person to slay a large number of people in such a short amount of time , illegal. You may counter my post with numbers about how many regular handgun deaths occur per year, but that does not compare. I am referring to deaths per shooter, not per type of gun. If there are 6,220 handgun deaths a year, but there were 6200 people who fired those handguns and committed those deaths, that is a different reading of the statistics that I am interested in. The Newtown gunman shot 26 people in,an extremely short span of time. As did the Aurora gunman. That is what makes the Bushman rifle and the gun used at the Aurora shooting extra dangerous, and why I am supporting legislation that would,ban these types of weapons. I have never cared before, really, but now I do, and I will fight for these ideas. You may disagree, and you,have your right to do so...
Jlo January 11, 2013 at 01:14 am
Karla- the bushmaster, and all AR platform rifles are made to look cosmetically like an assault rifle. In terms of firepower they are no different than the average semi automatic hunting rifle. Also the guy in CO killed people with a shot gun and a handgun, his rifle jammed on him.
Alethiologist January 11, 2013 at 02:48 am
There is a difference between a magazine and a clip...just like there is a difference between mascara and eye liner
Jim Eastwood January 11, 2013 at 06:44 am
Karla
How about the Kid from your town who was so invoved talking on her cell phone that she Struck AND KILLED a person on the side of the road. How about the Drunk Drivers who can barely drive their SUV's who kill more peopl than Guns in your Town(and Nationwide) Think !!!!!!! >ook at yourself and YOUR life style !!!!!!! LET the COMMISION do its Job !!! There are several other factors here--ONE BEING an Impaired SPOILED Kid--Like you don't havre that in Fairfield County ??????? It's not just Guns Karla !!!!! Get a Grip and Get out in the Real World !!
Karla Donovan January 11, 2013 at 01:45 pm
Gosh, I sure don't remember writing or thinking that guns are the only problem in this world. You sure are an angry and aggressive poster. I don't text unless I am home, and I don't even drink alcohol for the most part. Why are you attacking me? Get over yourself and perhaps get some therapy for your anger issues. It might help...
Karla Donovan January 11, 2013 at 01:52 pm
All of you are arguing that this is the wrong word, or the wrong type of gun or bullet. So what? Do something to prevent crazy people from getting guns, make sure people who,have guns are healthy enough to have those guns, and control or restrict weapons capable of killing massive amounts of innocent people in a few minutes. God have mercy on your souls if you believe the innocents do not need to have something done to prevent further slaughter. Stop attacking me for my opinion. I have never written nor do I believe all guns should be restricted or banned. Hysterical ninnies.
ART SAUER January 11, 2013 at 02:42 pm
Karla It's now about privacy I am not attacking you. If you read the comment completly and still don't understand review history. If confiscation of arms from the FREE FRENCH and Polish during WWII doesn't ring a bell GO BACK TO SCHOOL
Freedom IS NOT FREE that's the sorry state of the world around you.
Jim Eastwood January 11, 2013 at 03:28 pm
RIGHT ON ART !!!!!!!!
Keep it up !!!!! No side is either right nor wrong !!!! Agressive comments you bet !!!!!!Put the emotions aside and Let the appinted people-Mature, welleducated and balenced DO THEIR JOB !!!
Karla Donovan January 11, 2013 at 03:28 pm
Art, I do not support the publication of the list of gun owners. As per my previous comments! And my comment was not referring to your post.
Jlo January 11, 2013 at 10:59 pm
I support all of those suggestions but I do not support banning law abiding citizens from having certain types of weapons or sizes of magazines. ANY gun is capable of killing mass amounts of people. A semi auto handgun can fire just as fast as an AR-15 and with just as deadly results. The magazine argument is nonsensical because you can change magazines in less than a second with a bit of practice. I watched a video where a guy set up two targets side by side and timed himself shooting off a 20 round magazine using aimed shots which alternated back and forth between targets. It took him a hair over 15 second the first time. The second time he did the same drill but this time used two 10 round mags which required him switching in the middle, it took him just a hair over 15.5 seconds.
I support common sense regulations but banning AR-15's and 30 round mags doesn't make any sense. It won't make anyone safer and it won't keep guns out of the wrong hands.
Steve January 12, 2013 at 03:16 am
AR15 style rifles come standard with 20 to 30 round magazines. Anything less would be restricted capacity, so calls to limit 'high' capacity are disingenuous at best. There are no studies that show lower capacities lead to fewer homicides. Mass murders are extremely random & statistically rare. They account for about .01% of all homicides in the US.
What is the correct # of rounds a magazine should carry? 10 is frequently mentioned as it was set to that in the last federal ban, but that's an arbitrary number. Most full size semi-automatic pistols carry at least 12 & commonly 15-17. This is standard. Attempting to restrict magazines greater than x number of rounds is a fool's errand (not directed at you, just speaking generally). There are 10's of millions of magazines in circulation & they're not going away. There are valid reason for their use, both in competition as well as self defense. The police only average something around 33% hit rate when they have to use their firearms. If a citizen has to protect themselves from 3 meth heads, how many rounds will it take to stop the attack? Will they wait for you to reload?

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Thomas Paine June 18, 2013 at 01:46 pm
Why is it the panel for this event does not include a single advocate for gun-owners' rights? WithRead More all due respect to Chief McNamara, why does the panel no include a person who can speak to gun safety from a gun-owning civilian's perspective? ML, you claim that the assembled folks "do not offer judgements about gun ownership" but they are not including a single voice that can offer perspective on gun ownership. I have been to "education" sessions sponsored by Meg's March for Change and they are one-sided indoctrinations into gun control advocacy. >>>> I was in Hartford for the public hearings in January when both Meg and March co-founder Nancy gave their personal testimonies and they all but threatened the legislators on the panel with election day retribution for all those who did not tow the gun-control line of thinking (i.e. March and CAGV). To suggest that Meg "does not offer judgements" if fallacious at best, disingenuous at worst.
Porter Gladstone III June 19, 2013 at 06:27 pm
I guess people can organize discussions with agenda as they see fit? Just checked some NRARead More sponsored meetings and this was the sample of speakers:attendees joined in honoring Friends of NRA Volunteers of the Year from across with country. Attendees also listened to speakers from the event's sponsors Cabela's, U.S. Law Shield and Universal Coin and Bullion. Former NRA President David Keene encouraged NRA members to stand and fight for their American freedoms, and R. Lee Ermy "The Gunny" reinforced the message by surprising guests and autographing a Glock pistol for one winner. Now unless "the gunny" was the invited person who spoke on behalf of gun control, I cant find the parrallel you demand be accomodated for this groups agenda.
Penny Riordan June 10, 2013 at 01:00 pm
Sorry Elmcrest! We don't like the spam either! As Lisa said, our engineers are working hard toRead More prevent those spammers from attacking our 900+ sites across the country.
Elmcrest June 11, 2013 at 07:45 am
Good luck! Just today, Tuesday, June 11, there have been over 350 of those spam posts since 3:30 AM,Read More and it’s not even 8:00 AM yet!
Ed Smith June 13, 2013 at 12:02 pm
Yup, "US Open Golf" is doing it right now, posting a new blog every 2 minutes.
Diane McEvoy June 18, 2013 at 09:48 am
US Representative Larson is now on board, which leaves Rep. DeLauro and Senator Murphy. Neither ofRead More their staffers are forthcoming about why they have not co-sponsored. Please call their DC offices and urge them to stop up. Murphy has supposedly received only 40 calls on the subject.
monique thomas June 7, 2013 at 05:14 pm
Unknown to most parents, children’s data is being shared beyond the school district with sixRead More agencies inside the Utah Data Alliance and UTREX, according to Utah Technology Director John Brandt. The student data is further being “mashed” with federal databases, according to federal Education Dept. Chief of Staff Joanne Weiss: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/inside-school-research/2012/07/ed_urges_states_to_make_data_s.html While John Brandt assures us that only a handful of people in Utah have access to the personally identifiable data of children, recent alterations to federal FERPA (Famly Education Rights Privacy Act) regulations which were made by the U.S. Dept of Education, have radically redefined terms and widened the window of groups who can access private data without parental consent. For more on that, see the lawsuit against the U.S. Dept of Education on the subject: http://epic.org/apa/ferpa/default.html But first, an interjection: I want to introduce this article: http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/your-students-privacy/ I like this article because it exposes the facts plainly, that parents are unaware that their children’s information is being shared without parental permission, beyond the school, beyond the district, and even beyond the state. It is verifiable and true. What it means: Courses taken, grades earned, every demographic piece of information, including family names and income, is being watched by the U.S. government via schools. Verify for yourself: The U.S. Dept. of Education’s own explanation is here, showing why SLDS systems exist: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/slds/factsheet.html
Tasin Sumaia June 9, 2013 at 01:55 pm
http://directwatchliveonline.blogspot.com/2013/06/watch-france-vs-brazil-livestream-online.html
1CarGarageinNC June 6, 2013 at 06:16 pm
Why does ANY of this surprise you? You can take the man out of Chicago... Where is the outrageRead More across the land? Why do we sheepishly respond to these multiple malfeasances? Obama will stay in office and do what he wants until 2016 for one reason. Two words. President Biden.
Glen K Dunbar June 7, 2013 at 02:49 pm
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Marie-Pierre Graf June 5, 2013 at 04:55 pm
I feel so blessed to have had those 37 great young people in my life for the last 3 years! I willRead More miss them so much!