I wonder what is the definition of a criminal in the gun database....

Five of the greatest words ever spoken in the English language come from Chuck Heston. "From my cold dead hands!" He said that often in support of Second Amendment rights. Now a chief of police and other politicians from the New England area wants to have a registry of guns owned by convicts. Kinda makes you go hummmmmm?

Gun Registry Supported by Norwalk Police Chief
Harry Rilling says its good to have statewide database.


With crime and violence on the minds of many in Norwalk, the state Legislature is considering a bill to create a gun offender registry. Today in Hartford State Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, a Democrat representing Hamden and New Haven, testified that Connecticut needs a database that would help law enforcement to better combat gun violence.

For Norwalk's Police Chief, Harry Rilling, the database would be extremely good to have.

The Senate Bill 695 would establish the first such registry in the nation. Looney appeared before the General Assembly’s Public Safety Committee and said of the proposal that was suggested by New Haven's police chief.

...Looney cited statistics about recidivism rates by individuals convicted of gun crimes. Five cities maintain gun offender registries, they are New York City, Washington, DC, Baltimore, Utica, NY and Suffolk County, NY. According to Looney, Baltimore reported that in the first year only three of more than 200 registrants had been rearrested for handgun violations.

OK...3 out of 200...that's 1.5 percent effectivness. That's a statistical rounding area. Doesn't sound good to me.

The bill proposed by Looney requires that individuals who are convicted of gun crimes would have to register their photograph and address with the commissioner of public safety either following their conviction or release from incarceration. That information would be retained for four years and would be accessible to local law enforcement throughout the state. Each year the registrant would have to check in with the commissioner and immediately upon an address change. Failing to register would be a criminal act...

OK, got it. Anyone convicted of a gun crime.

Forgive me if I sound a bit paranoid but once this is started will it stay only at gun crimes...and was exactly is the gun crime we are talking about. Some cities have local ordinances that are kinda anal (e.g. guns must be carried in truck or otherwise out of reach of occupants....). Is this only for crimes committed in the state or will a citation I got from New York get me on the file. Finally will it always be only for misdemeanor gun crimes. A felon cannot own any firearms so this is by definition a database of people with misdemeanor offenses. How can we be assured the powers in the state capital won't say "You were convicted of a shoplifting a Coke when you were 17 and although you have been clean ever since we need to know if you own any guns for the good of you and the public...."

Hey, even paranoids have enemies!