Senate Leadership
June 5, 2007
Looney and Representative Tong Praise House Passage of Lost or Stolen Firearms Bill
Important legislation now heads to the Governor
State Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and state Rep. William Tong (D-Stamford) today hailed passage by the state House of Representatives of their landmark lost or stolen firearms legislation. It will now be considered by Governor Rell.
The bill, championed by Sen. Looney and Rep. Tong throughout the legislative session, requires that gun owners report the loss or theft of guns to local law enforcement within 72 hours of when the loss or theft is discovered. Any person who fails to make a report by the prescribed time period will be fined for a first offense and be guilty of a class D felony for any subsequent offense. Intentional failure to report would be a Class C felony.
Sen. Looney said law enforcement needs the necessary tools to get guns off the streets. "Gun violence is a plague on our cities and results in tragic and unnecessary deaths, tearing families apart. The state must adopt measures to prevent and punish the illicit flow of guns and ammunition into the wrong hands. This measure will provide law enforcement with the resources needed to address this crisis," he said.
Rep. Tong said members of law enforcement supported the bill, signaling its importance. "This bill has two main purposes. It attempts to get the illegal guns off the streets where they fall into the hands of those who shouldn't have them. And it targets firearms traffickers."
Both Sen. Looney and Rep. Tong expressed hope that the governor signs the bill.
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Senator Williams’ Larry Cook |
Listing of Leadership’s recent press releases. |
Senator Looney’s Larry Cook |
