Lamont, Ganim propose 3-D gun bans

(L to R) Treasurer candidate Shawn Wooden, gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont and attorney general candidate William Tong spoke in favor of legislation banning ghost guns at Hartford Public Library in Hartford, Conn. on Wednesday August 1, 2018. less (L to R) Treasurer candidate Shawn Wooden, gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont and attorney general candidate William Tong spoke in favor of legislation banning ghost guns at Hartford Public Library in Hartford, ... more Photo: Emilie Munson / Hearst Connecticut Media Buy photo Photo: Emilie Munson / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Lamont, Ganim propose 3-D gun bans 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Connecticut does not have a state law that explicitly forbids ownership of plastic, untraceable “ghost guns,” but in the light of a recent federal settlement that could allow blueprints for 3-D printed guns to go online, Democrats are renewing calls to pass such a ban.

A federal judge Tuesday night issued a temporary national injunction preventing a man from posting download-able blueprints for 3-D printing a gun on the internet.

Democratic endorsed candidates Ned Lamont, running for governor, William Tong, running for attorney general, and Shawn Wooden, running for treasurer, stood next to a 3-D printer in Hartford Public Library Wednesday and urged the state legislature to prevent the machine from becoming a weapons manufacturer.

“What we’re seeing now with ghost guns and 3-D printing is the way we’re trying to enforce our existing laws and make them relevant to the 21st century,” said Lamont. “This is an enormous end run around what we’re trying to do in terms of protecting our streets.”

Meanwhile Lamont’s opponent in this months’ Democratic gubernatorial primary, Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, held his own press conference Wednesday to pledge that his city would pursue a local ghost gun ban until state legislators take action.

“The invisibility of it, the undetectability of it … is of grave concern,” said Ganim, flanked by a small group of state legislators, City Council members and police personnel.

The General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee considered a bill this spring that would have prohibited people from creating or assembling a gun — whether by a DIY gun kit or 3-D printing — without obtaining a serial number for it, regulated the amount of metal required in such a gun and forbade the transfer such a gun to others.

That bill passed the Judiciary Committee, but was never called to the House floor, where Democrats have a majority.

“We’re all here calling for immediate action as soon as the legislature goes back into session,” Tong, a state representative from Stamford and Judiciary Committee co-chairman, said in Hartford Wednesday. “We can’t wait for the court.”

.

Meanwhile in Bridgeport, Ganim’s staff handed out a draft municipal ordinance that the City Council is expected to take up in the coming weeks that would essentially make it illegal to assemble, possess or sell ghost guns within city limits.

The Ganim administration is relying on a state statute that allows municipal governments to pass local laws addressing public nuisances, health and safety.

But enforcement of the anti-ghost gun ordinance, if passed, would be limited to allowing police to confiscate the equipment and impose $100 daily civil fines.

“You can’t be arrested for it,” noted Tom Gaudett, a Ganim aide.

Councilwoman Eneida Martinez, a co-chairman of the ordinance committee, pledged to move quickly on the proposal, calling it “critical and very important.”

Ganim also urged the man he wants to succeed, retiring Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, to call a special session for the legislature to immediately pass anti-ghost gun legislation this summer.

“Connecticut has been a leader in common sense gun laws,” Ganim said.

emunson@hearstmediact.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson