Thursday, June 14, 2012

The Wild West is Here In New Britain!


Much to his credit Republican Alderman Willie Pabon proposed a change to a current city ordinance to having gun owners to conceal their weapons rather than the current city ordinance that mandates gun owners with gun permits to have their weapons exposed when in public.

This issue was sent to a sub-committee and the full council will vote on this proposal at a subsequent council meeting.

  fs

19 comments:

Lou Salvio said...

With regard to this subject, I posed the following question in the on-line edition of a local NB Paper
on Jun 14, 2012 7:27 AM:
" Regarding weapons in public : according to Rachel Baird " Rachel Baird, a Torrington-based lawyer who deals with firearm issues, said she believes the current city ordinance or the proposed change could be successfully challenged in court."

“With accordance to state law there is no prohibition on carrying an open or concealed weapon,” Baird said Wednesday. “For a town to attempt to limit that, to me, conflicts with state law. I would think it could be reasonable challenged (in court).”

Most school systems, from what I have read and from many I have visited ban the carrying of any kind of weapon or even a facsimile, exposed or concealed.

Question for Rachel Baird or anyone else: what happens if one of our weapon carrying citizens wanders on to school grounds or goes to a school with to pick up a child, with a weapon that is exposed or even concealed and is found somehow, to have same? Is that citizen subject to the same rules as a child attending that school? "

Other commenters to the same paper gave some very useful comments in response to my question, citing existing state laws, etc.

The reason for the question I asked is that sources tell me that a recent fight at NB High School required a call to NB Police to come and quell the disturbance. Investigation exposed that one of the student participants in the fight was found to have a knife. No news of the fight was seen in either local paper. Supposedly the knife carrying student has, "CONNECTIONS!'

Anonymous said...

I believe what you meant Frank is that the change allows them ( legal permit holders) to conceal the firearm that they may carry, as opposed to being forced to carry it open.

Unknown said...

The language change does not mandate concealment of firearms. It merely removes the word firearms from the list of banned items of concealment.

It passed, it would allow for people to lawfully conceal their firearms.. Open carry would still be legal under 29-28 of the Connecticut Statutes which does not call for any particular manner of carry.

Anonymous said...

If I have a permit issued to me by the state police allowing me to carry a concealed firearm anywhere in the state, who is New Britain to say that they will not honor the commissioner's permit?

Anonymous said...

State permit is for open or concealed carry of pistols, or revolvers. The City of NB issues a temp state premit, so whats the deal. The police chief should have a press confrence or release or some kind.

http://www.ct.gov/bfpe/cwp/view.asp?a=1838&Q=418126&PM=1

Anonymous said...

Lou sir, I value you input on most of what you say. You seem to be well read. So to you and everyone, here is the link to the state firearm laws. Please read them

http://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/law/firearms.htm

Anonymous said...

Connecticut Constitution
Article First
SEC. 15. Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state.

Anonymous said...

Lou,
Under your scenario the person going onto school grounds to pick up their child would seem to be committing a felony even if he/she is a police officer because picking up a child at school is not "in the official performance of his/her duties as a peace officer" because they are simply picking up their child as a parent and not acting as a peace officer.

The actual statute is below:


Sec. 53a-217b. Possession of a weapon on school grounds: Class D felony. (a) A person is guilty of possession of a weapon on school grounds when, knowing that such person is not licensed or privileged to do so, such person possesses a firearm or deadly weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, (1) in or on the real property comprising a public or private elementary or secondary school, or (2) at a school-sponsored activity as defined in subsection (h) of section 10-233a.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the otherwise lawful possession of a firearm (1) by a person for use in a program approved by school officials in or on such school property or at such school-sponsored activity, (2) by a person in accordance with an agreement entered into between school officials and such person or such person's employer, (3) by a peace officer, as defined in subdivision (9) of section 53a-3, while engaged in the performance of such peace officer's official duties, or (4) by a person while traversing such school property for the purpose of gaining access to public or private lands open to hunting or for other lawful purposes, provided such firearm is not loaded and the entry on such school property is permitted by the local or regional board of education.

(c) Possession of a weapon on school grounds is a class D felony.

Anonymous said...

Frank, your title "The Wild West is Here in NB" rings true today. The bad guys have concealed weapons and no permits while the law abiding are just that. Malloy let the gang members out of jail after hitting us with the largest tax increase ever. He gave them the ability to make some of our poorer neighborhoods dangerous. Permitted, trained, vetted citizens should be able to carry to protect themselves and others as needed. If they're not worthy, they don't get the permit. That's the reason for the process.

Lou Salvio said...

Frank:

Had an interesting conversation yesterday with Lisa Backus of the Herald. She filled me in on the policy re weapons at NBHS.

I agree with a Herald commenter that perhaps the policy for all CT schools should be uniform.

Some TV programs or movies show that just about anything could be used as a weapon ; one TV program has a character that is trained as an assassin who said she could kill a person using a paper clip! Oh well.

Have enjoyed the comments though, free of rancor and personal attacks.

Anonymous said...

Speaking of weapons and NBHS, I heard that the son of a police comissioner was involved in a fight at the high school a few weeks back and when searched they found a knife on the kid. That is grounds for automatic expulsion! When his mommy heard she ran right down there and demanded her kid be let go. Lets talk about a double standard Mr.Mayor. When the Browns son gets caught it's alright but everyone else gets pubished? Where is that story Lisa Backus?????

Anonymous said...

Speaking of the Brown's, anyone know if they ever paid their property taxes? Just another situation where they are clearly above the laws they are both charged with enforcing upon the rest of us "little people"!

Anonymous said...

Lisa is not allowed to report anything negative on her prominent Democratic Duo. Only good things.

Isn't that right Lisa?

Anonymous said...

Frank,
Perhaps NB City hall should contact New London and ask why they removed their forced open carry only Ord so they all know why we should do it here in NB. And maybe Scott Wilson (from CCDL)who commented here could also explain it to them. I believe he and CCDL were the ones that had worked with New London on their revision.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

Speaking of the Brown's, anyone know if they ever paid their property taxes? Just another situation where they are clearly above the laws they are both charged with enforcing upon the rest of us "little people"!

DEMOCRATS DON'T PAY NO TAXES. REPUBLICANS PAY TAXES SO THAT DEMOCRATS CAN LIVE FREE!

Anonymous said...

REPUBLICANS PAY TAXES SO THAT DEMOCRATS CAN LIVE FREE!

Maybe our new building official misunderstood all those license plates (Live Free Or Die) growing up in New Hampshire. The "Live Free" refers to free of government regulation, not living free on someone else's dime!

Anonymous said...

Just got word today that school records show that no fight occurred recently at NBHS where a person named Brown was involved. This may have been an incident at one of the three Middle Schools.

Anonymous said...

...or could records have possibly been removed for someone who is politically connected?

No, that would never happen!

Anonymous said...

New Britain goes Texas!

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