Malloy signs bump stock ban into law

FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2017, file photo, a device called a "bump stock" is attached to a semi-automatic rifle at the Gun Vault store and shooting range in South Jordan, Utah. FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2017, file photo, a device called a "bump stock" is attached to a semi-automatic rifle at the Gun Vault store and shooting range in South Jordan, Utah. Photo: Rick Bowmer / Associated Press Photo: Rick Bowmer / Associated Press Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Malloy signs bump stock ban into law 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

HARTFORD — With the ink barely dry on a new law banning bump stocks — devices that enhance the rate of gun fire — gun control advocates are already setting their sights on their next target.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and others said ghost guns — weapons assembled from kits that contain no serial number for registration and tracking — should also be banned in Connecticut.

"There was a handful of Democrats who were weak-kneed on it," Malloy said of the ghost gun ban, which failed to pass the General Assembly this year.

"But it’s not unusual to take a few tries to get something passed,” Malloy said. “We can all do a better job in terms of ghost guns."

Although Malloy will not be governor next year — the two-term Democrat is not seeking re-election — it was clear during a bill signing ceremony Thursday over the bump stock ban that efforts to prohibit ghost guns will return next year.

"The laws we enact say something about our citizens," said Kate Martin, a leader of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

"By passing [the bump stock ban] we continue our leadership in efforts to keep our children and residents safe," Martin said. "But we have more to do. We are here to say this is a movement, not a moment. We will keep going until we can feel safe in our communities and our cities."

As Malloy signed the bump stock ban, the governor noted the law was inspired by the October 2017 shooting at a Las Vegas concert that left 58 people dead and more than 800 injured.

"This legislation was the result of a shooting in Las Vegas where bullets were raining down on concert goers," Malloy said. "It focuses on the issue of weapons of mass destruction being owned and operated by a citizenry that was never considered at the time the Second Amendment was added to the Constitution."

The Las Vegas shooter used bump stocks to modify various semi-automatic rifles to fire 90 bullets every 10 seconds. The device uses the recoil of the gun to increase the rate of fire.

"Excited for change"

The bill signing was held at Bulkeley High School in Hartford, where students — along with thousands of others across the state and nation — recently walked out of class to support of gun control following the Parkland, Florida high school shooting that left 17 students and adults dead.

"Student voices are important and powerful," said Jasmine Lall, a Bulkeley student. "This bill is one example of how powerful student voices can be. Our voices are the voices of a generation excited for change."

U.S. Sen Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, said Connecticut’s gun control measures help push federal lawmakers to take similar action.

"The more states that ban [bump stocks] the more likely the national ban will be," Blumenthal said. "It adds national momentum and we are seeing the energy. There is clear consensus they should be banned."

Blumenthal, a member of the Senate judiciary committee, conceded it’s more difficult to enact other measures, such as strengthening background checks, closing gun show loopholes and raising the age to buy assault weapons.

The Connecticut bump stock ban passed by bipartisan majorities in the state House and Senate. The law prohibits possession of bump stocks and other trigger enhancement devices after Oct. 1. Anyone found with a device would be guilty of a Class D felony.

Gun owners with a gun permit would be guilty of a Class D misdemeanor for a first offense until July 1, 2019 and a Class D felony in the following years.

Similar bump stock bans have been approved in Massachusetts, California, Vermont, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Washington, Hawaii and Florida.

Following the tragic shooting five years ago at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut banned military style assault weapons, large capacity magazines and blocked those with a restraining order from buying guns.

Battle ahead

While Connecticut’s bump stock ban passed, a bill to prohibit ghost guns hit a wall of opposition and did not move beyond the committee stage.

Ghost guns kits are often sold online and advertised as "unserialized and unregistered." At the web site Ghostguns.com, a Glock pistol can be purchased for $129.99 and a lesser handgun for $33.99. A complete AK 47 assault rifle goes for $714.

Scott Wilson, president of the Connecticut Citizens Defense League, a gun rights group, said he’s sure a ban on ghost guns will return next year.

"There does seem to be a pattern of repetition that includes the creation of a new "boogeyman" every session," Wilson said. "Rather than deal with violent criminals or implement suitable mental health resources, legal gun owners will likely be unfairly targeted again and again."

Tom Campbell, who serves on the board of the Newtown Action Alliance, urged federal lawmakers to at least pass a bump stock ban and threw his support behind banning ghost guns in Connecticut.

"They have created an illusion of sport including all the accessories, including bump stocks, that gives guys in U.S. a sense they are on a mission," Campbell said, referring to gun control opponents.

“Has that led to mass hysteria? I think it has,” Campbell said. “The culture it creates and promotes leads to a violence that has become uncontrollable."

Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, a Democratic candidate for governor, praised the bump stock ban but said more needs to be done.

"We need to do much more, especially at the federal level, to enact common sense gun safety measures, such as universal background checks at gun shows and a ban on assault weapons," Ganim said.

bcummings@ctpost.com