If you've been convicted of a DWI or DUI in the past five years, then Gov. Dannel P. Malloy doesn't think you should own a firearm.
Under Malloy's recently released gun law proposals, one provision would prohibit anyone convicted of either offense from purchasing a firearm. The law would also be applied retroactively, meaning residents convicted of DWI or DUI in the past five years would no longer be permitted to own a firearm, according to an article by CT News Junkie.
The governor's proposal is keeping in line with the state's current gun law, which makes it illegal for convicted felons to possess a firearm, Michael Lawlor, Malloy's criminal justice advisor, tells CT News Junkie. It would not impact law-abiding gun owners, Lawlor said.
Lawmakers are already finding themselves on both sides of this one. The CT News Junkie article quotes two legislators — a Democrat and a Republican — who, respectively, are for and against it.
Malloy's proposal comes as the gun violence subcommittee of the state's Bi-Partisan Task Force on Gun Violence Prevention and School Security prepares to release its recommendations for legislative and policy change. The Task Force was formed in the wake of that claimed the life of 20 first graders and six educators.
Meanwhile, gun law proposals are being debated at the federal level, too. President Barack Obama, who visited Newtown just days after the school shooting, has called on Congress to re-enact and strengthen an assault rifle ban, among other measures — sparking a national debate on the Second Amendment.
