Sen. Hwang Co-Sponsoring Measures to Ban Bump Stocks, Ghost Guns

Sen. Tony Hwang today announced that he is co-sponsoring legislative proposals in the Connecticut General Assembly to ban bump stocks and ghost guns.

Bump stocks are after-market products that can be attached to a semiautomatic gun to make it essentially a fully automatic gun, which is illegal in Connecticut.

Ghost guns are partially completed weapons that do not meet the federal definition of a firearm and can be sold without background checks to anyone.

The legislature’s Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 23 on a variety of bills, including:

• H.B. No. 5540: AN ACT CONCERNING GHOST GUNS AND THE PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS.   (www.cga.ct.gov/2018/TOB/h/2018HB-05540-R00-HB.htm)
• H.B. No. 5542: AN ACT CONCERNING BUMP STOCKS AND OTHER MEANS OF ENHANCING THE RATE OF FIRE OF A FIREARM.   (www.cga.ct.gov/2018/TOB/h/2018HB-05542-R00-HB.htm)

Those who wish to submit public testimony on the bills can send an email to [email protected].

Sen. Hwang also expressed support for S.B. No. 18: AN ACT BANNING RATE OF FIRE ENHANCEMENTS.   (www.cga.ct.gov/2018/TOB/s/2018SB-00018-R00-SB.htm)

Bill 18 states that possession and sale of rate-of-fire enhancements, including bump stocks, binary trigger systems and trigger cranks will result in a Class D felony. Permit holders who possess rate-of-fire enhancements prior to July 1, 2020, will receive an infraction and be fined $90 for their first offense, and shall be charged with a Class D felony for any subsequent offense.  The proposed legislation defines a “rate of fire enhancement” as any device, component, part, combination of parts, attachment, or accessory that uses energy from the recoil of the firearm to generate a reciprocating action that facilitates repeated operation of the trigger, including but not limited to bump stocks.

“There is no single solution that will put an end to the national epidemic of gun violence,” Sen. Hwang said.  “Banning bump stocks and ghost guns in Connecticut will represent a step forward.  I feel these measures will receive bipartisan support.  At the same time, I continue to stress that a balanced approach to addressing this epidemic requires that more attention be paid to mental health issues.  I will continue to find ways to lead the community conversation on these vitally important public policy areas.  We should never stop striving to make our communities safer.”

Sen. Hwang represents Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport. On the web: www.SenatorHwang.com.  He can be reached at[email protected] and at 800-842-1421.