Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Friday, March 18, 2016

Bill Would Confiscate Guns Before Allegations of Abuse Proven

A new bill introduced in Connecticut changes state law so that guns are confiscated from the subject of a protective order the moment the request for the order is filed rather than waiting until the accused has an opportunity to have his or her case heard by a judge.

The measure is supported by state senator Mae Flexer (D-Killingly), who says, “The minute a woman comes forward and asks for a temporary restraining order is the most dangerous moment of her life.”

Opponents of the measure point out that the request for a protective order on the accusation of criminal behavior and the issuance of said order in light of a judge’s decision are two different things. They argue that it completely flips the scales, forcing gun owners into a position of being guilty until proven innocent.

Moreover, according to the Hartford Courant, bill opponents want to know if Flexer has thought about how long confiscated guns would be held by the state in a situation where the judge refuses to issue an order? For example, in a case where an order is requested on the first day of the month and guns are confiscated, what happens to those guns if the judge refuses the order request two weeks later?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Guilty before proven innocent here folks!

Isn't that a violation of one of the founding fathers' rules...in The Constitution and Bill of Rights?!

Anonymous said...

Just try to consider this from an abused womans' perspective.

(I'm a guy)

Anonymous said...

There are many instance (right and wrong) in our legal system where detention/punishment without due process has become acceptable. You can thank our drug warrior "asset forfeiture" laws for that.

Anonymous said...

10:23 yes, but in Obama's new world we don't even have freedom of speech anymore, just try and speak out about him.

Anonymous said...

It seems to me the better solution is to provide protective custody for the person filing the protective order. People don't seem to have trouble purchasing illegal guns if they really want one, so I don't see how confiscation is going to help.

lmclain said...

11:12....her "perspective", whatever it is, does not give her the right to solve her personal tragedy by taking away everyone's else's rights, especially the foundation of our legal system -- that the people are innocent until proven guilty.
There will ALWAYS be a "very critical" reason, or a need for an "exception" to our protections under the Constitution. NONE of them are valid, but you've cheered the demise of the Bill of Rights so wholeheartedly that nowadays, people don't think twice about giving up their freedoms. The problem is, they also want the rest of us to give them up, too.
Which is a very good reason to continue to buy guns. Jefferson was nobody's fool...