Several gun advocacy groups and individuals filed a lawsuit May 22 in which they claim the state’s recent gun reform package violates citizens’ constitutional right to bear arms.
The lawsuit appeals to the court system to strike down Connecticut General Assembly Bill No. 1160 (An Act Concerning Gun Violence Prevention and Children’s Safety) on the basis that it violates the second amendment. The suit was filed with the U.S. District Court in Bridgeport and names Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and members of the Connecticut Attorney General’s office as defendants.
The gun reform bill was signed into law in early April, and includes provisions for mandatory universal background checks on all firearm sales, expanded bans on assault weapons and the sale of large capacity magazines, and the creation of a dangerous weapon offender registry. The law bans roughly 100 additional gun models and the sale of ammunition magazines with more than 10 rounds.
Plaintiffs include June Shew, Mitchell Rocklin, Stephanie Cypher, Peter Owens, Brian McClain, Stephen Holly, Hiller Sports L.L.C., MD Shooting Sports L.L.C., the Connecticut Citizens’ Defense League and the Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen.
Malloy administration representatives have said that the governor expected a legal challenge to follow the passage of the gun reform legislation, and that they are prepared to defend the law’s constitutionality.
