FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-5/26/2023

From the Desk of Chairman Ben Proto:

Democrats and Lamont Push Unconstitutional Gun Control Bill
Constitutional Rights Are Under Assault In CT, Dems Move to Ban Open Carry

The following is the text of the Second Amendment:
 
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

The following is the text of Article First, Section 15 of the Constitution of the State of Connecticut:

"Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state."

Governor Lamont and Connecticut Legislative Democrats' gun-control bill, which passed the CT House of Representatives yesterday, prohibits the open carry of a firearm in the State of Connecticut.
 
"This sweeping gun-control law is blatantly unconstitutional. The US Supreme Court in Heller, McDonald and New York State Rifle and Pistol Association affirmed the public's right to carry a firearm and imposed a very strict level of scrutiny on any new state laws seeking to restrict those rights.  This new law does not meet that level of scrutiny and, in order to placate their far-left liberal base, the Democrats will have embroiled the taxpayers in very expensive and ultimately losing litigation. This legislation reduces every citizen of Connecticut's right to bear arms in their own defense, a right absolutely guaranteed by our state constitution as well as restricts a citizen's right to bear arms, which is also guaranteed by the US Constitution" said Ben Proto, Chairman, Connecticut Republicans.
 
"While we all can agree that we need to address the issues of gun violence, these provisions don't really address this issue and will only serve to disarm law abiding citizens, while doing nothing to stop those who seek to inflict great harm on innocent people."
 
"This impingement on the rights guaranteed by the U.S. and Connecticut Constitutions is nothing more than a political act by the Democrats; one that will not stop one mass shooting, will not save one life, and will not make our communities safer.”
 
“All HB 6667 does is continue to erode those freedoms our founding fathers gave to us and continues the Democrats' desire to dismantle our constitution and the very freedoms that we enjoy. It begs the question; what other of our rights do the Democrats think are at their disposal?”  continued Proto.
 
Our Constitution and the rights guaranteed by our Constitution are not negotiable and we must and will defend those rights. As the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. said “We must condemn those who are perpetuating the violence, and not the individuals who engage in the pursuit of their constitutional rights.”
 
“This legislation fails Reverend King’s mandate and fails to ensure that our schools, public spaces, streets and homes are safe” concluded Proto.