Rep. proposes to make gun permit holders' info public

WEST HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook shootings, a new controversial proposal would overturn the state law that keeps the names and addresses of gun owners confidential.

Twenty years ago state lawmakers made the names and addresses of gun owners confidential, available only to law enforcement and the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

"Everyone you talk to around the state of Connecticut were so impacted by the loss of life, in children more specifically, it impacted everyone," said Rep. Steve Dargan.

The longtime co-chair of the legislature's Public Safety Committee, Democratic State Representative Steve Dargan of West Haven, long considered a friend by gun owners, is proposing that the gun owners confidentiality law be overturned that the names and addresses be made public.

By one estimate there are nearly 180,000 people living in Connecticut that have pistol permits issued by the Department of Public Safety. The names and addresses of those permittees was made confidential by state law 20 years ago.

"My bill, or my thought process, is not to hurt any law abiding person, but just to continue that discussion," Dargan said.
    
Dargan notes that in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook shootings all gun laws need review.

"It's a shopping list for criminals," said Bob Crook, Coalition of CT Sportsmen. "First off, it's a two-edged sword; you can either say that they'll know where the guns are an avoid it or they'll know where the guns are and steal it."
  
The head of a group of more than 35,000 gun owners says there are major problems with Dargan's proposal.

"Opens up harassment for the citizens who own guns," Crook said, "there's a lot of people out there that don't like guns. I don't want demonstrators in front of my house."

The executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut says he's inclined to agree that gun owners' right to privacy is at stake.

"We would like to see the exact bill and make a determination based on the exact language that's in such a bill," said Andrew Schneider, "but from what it sounds like, we would probably oppose it."

This proposal, among several other proposed gun law changes, will be up before what's expected to be a huge public hearing in the coming weeks before Dargan's committee at the State Capitol.