Gun ban defeated in West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, Conn., July 26, 2000 - The proposal to ban firearms from town buildings, even for permit-holders, was defeated last night in a 6-2 vote by the Town Council.

"The council members recognized that this was a non-solution to a non-problem," said Ralph D. Sherman, chairman of Gunsafe. "And they listened to their constituents."

Thirteen Gunsafe members attended the public hearing. Five gave oral testimony to the Town Council.

Only one member of the public spoke in favor of the ordinance.

"Everyone who supports the Second Amendment and the right of self defense should be proud of the gun owners who turned out for the hearing," Sherman said. The Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen also deserves credit for helping publicize the issue, he added.

Besides being unenforceable and failing to prevent crime, the ordinance would have been illegal, said Sherman, an attorney whose office is in West Hartford.

"Case law dating from 1984 shows that the town has no authority to criminalize concealed carry by those who hold permits," Sherman said. "Only the state legislature has the power to pass this type of law."

The proposed ordinance would have prohibited carrying a "loaded" firearm inside any town building. The penalty would have been a $90 fine.

"So the message is, if you’re a criminal, and you’re carrying a handgun without a permit, and you’re not afraid of the state law that imposes a mandatory minimum one-year jail sentence for carrying without a permit, you better look out when you get to West Hartford, because we have a $90 fine," Sherman told the Town Council in his testimony.

Several council members noted that a $90 fine would not stop anyone who was intent on committing murder and was prepared to face life imprisonment or the death penalty.

Five Republicans and one Democrat voted against the ordinance, with two Democrats voting for it.

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