Police: Man violated new gun law

NORWALK -- A Bridgeport man became one of the first persons in the state charged with a misdemeanor under Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's sweeping new gun laws.

Norwalk Police wrote a summons for Tyrone Watson, 30, of Bridgeport, on Sunday for possession of a large capacity magazine on or after Jan. 1, 2014, that was obtained prior to April 5, 2013. His court date is Jan. 17.

An officer stopped Watson's vehicle on Water Street at 1:25 a.m. Sunday, because the officer felt that Watson was tailgating him, police said. The officer let Watson's car pass, then pulled him over, police said.

While trying to find his license and registration, Watson took out his pistol permit and quickly put it back, according to police.

The officer asked if Watson had a weapon on him, and Watson replied that he was carrying a gun, police said.

The officer secured the handgun for the duration of the motor vehicle stop and while making the pistol safe, the officer noticed that the pistol had 11 bullets in its magazine and none in its chamber, police said. The magazine had a capacity to hold 15 bullets, according to police.

A portion of Connecticut's new gun laws, which went into effect Jan. 1, make it illegal to have a magazine that holds more than 10 bullets. Large capacity magazines purchased prior to the passage of the new law had to be registered by Dec. 31.

Watson was advised of the new law, and he said he had no idea that the law went into effect, police said.

The officer wrote Watson a summons and gave him back his gun and the magazine, telling him to store the items in his trunk until he arrived at his home, according to police.