Tom Foley, the Republican running for governor in Connecticut, said on Tuesday he supports a gun restriction proposal by his opponent Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy. The proposal would make it illegal for anyone under a temporary restraining order to posses a firearm.
Malloy made the proposal last week when domestic violence was part of a national conversation following the release of a video of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punching and knocking out his fiancée.
Foley says Malloy’s proposed legislation is reasonable. “You have to balance the rights of people who think they are at risk with others rights. I don’t think a two week period is unreasonable. So I support it,” said the Republican about his Democratic opponent’s proposal.
Under current Conn. law, anyone who has a restraining order against them is entitled to a hearing before a judge to determine whether the measure is merited. If the judge upholds the order, a provision prohibiting gun ownership takes effect. Malloy is proposing that the gun ban take effect before the hearing. This would eliminate the current window of about two-weeks in which someone who poses a threat to his or her partner could have access to firearms.
A gun rights group that had endorsed Foley had come out against the proposal. That had prompted Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman and several women Democratic lawmakers to call on Foley to declare his stand on the matter.
