Compliance rates for the gun and magazine registry in Connecticut are much lower than expected. This comes as little surprise, since post offices closed early the day before the January 1 cutoff and most people wait until the last minute to meet deadlines like this. In an effort to salvage some credibility, the state is already considering an amnesty and a second chance at registration, less than a month after the original deadline.

Historically, such schemes have met with little success. Canada and Australia should be considered as test cases. There was little reason to expect better results in Connecticut.

Before we start with the mah cold dead hands claptrap, let’s bear in mind that Governor Malloy didn’t seize power in a coup. Nor was the legislature who wrote this law appointed by some shadowy star chamber. The people of Connecticut voted for these people, and this should be an abject lesson that local and state elections matter.