November 30, 2012

Attorney General George Jepsen again urged U.S. Senate leaders to reject proposed federal legislation that would undermine Connecticut’s gun-permitting laws by requiring the state to recognize out-of-state permits, including concealed carry permits.

Attorney General Jepsen joined eight other attorneys general and one attorney general-elect from around the country in a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in opposition to the two bills, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act and the Respecting States Rights and Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.

“Connecticut has in place sensible gun-control laws that protect the right of law-abiding citizens and sportsmen to own and carry firearms while working to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals,” said Attorney General Jepsen. “A federal reciprocity law would completely undermine those sensible public safety measures.”

The proposed legislation would require that Connecticut apply the gun possession and permitting laws of other states when their residents travel to Connecticut. Such a requirement, the attorneys general argue, would be difficult to enforce and would override the states’ legislative and regulatory authority to determine who can and cannot carry a weapon in public.

In Connecticut, an individual who wants to possess or carry handguns must complete a state-approved handgun safety and use course and undergo state and national criminal history record checks. Individuals with certain criminal convictions or mental health histories are prohibited from possessing handguns.

As a former state Senate Majority Leader, Attorney General Jepsen was the principal co-author of Connecticut’s ban on assault weapons. Enacted in 1993, the ban makes it a felony to possess, sell or transport assault weapons in the state, including all military-style semiautomatic firearms.

He also supported a gun-seizure law, which allows police to obtain warrants and seize guns from people posing an imminent risk to themselves or others.

Attorney General Jepsen first wrote to Senate leadership last year to urge rejection of national right-to-carry reciprocity legislation.

###