Senate Leadership
April 30, 2009
Senate Majority Leader Praises Passage of Machine Gun Ban for Those Under the Age of 16
Senator Martin Looney (D-New Haven) says handling assault weapons poses serious threat to children
Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney (D-New Haven) has led passage of a bill that bans the use of machine guns and assault weapons by anyone under the age of 16. The proposal is in response to the tragedy at the gun show in Massachusetts last year where an eight year old boy died after accidentally shooting himself in the head while firing an Uzi submachine gun under adult supervision.
“The tragedy that occurred in Massachusetts in October should be a wake-up for Connecticut,” said Senator Looney. “It is of vital importance that we keep children safe from assault weapons and machine guns. Children should not be in possession of assault weapons and machine guns which they may not be strong enough to control.”
A legislative analysis on the Senate Bill 358 reads:
This bill bars anyone from selling, giving, or transferring machine guns to people under age 16, including temporarily transferring the firearms to these minors to use in target shooting, at a firing or shooting range, or for any other purpose . . . A violation of the bill carries a $ 1,000 fine, imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both. The same penalty applies, under existing law, to possessing or using a machine gun for an offensive or aggressive purpose. “
The bill is supported by police chiefs across Connecticut, including New Haven Police Chief James Lewis and West Hartford Police Chief James Strillaci (speaking for the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association). At a public hearing on the proposal Chief Lewis said, “It is difficult to imagine any legitimate use by a minor of an assault weapon within an urban environment. We believe this exposes the minor to unnecessary risk that they may not be able to recognize.”
Senator Looney says passing the ban will make Connecticut law clear when it comes to children and assault weapons, “It is unclear under current law whether children are strictly prohibited from possessing assault weapons and machine guns and this legislation would leave no doubt that Connecticut will protect its youth from this obvious danger.”
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