Connecticut Democratic lawmakers have introduced a bill to broaden the state’s so-called red flag law. They allow courts to remove guns from a home if authorities believe the owner is at risk of committing gun violence.
Connecticut was the first state in the country to enact a red flag law in 1999. It came after a shooter killed four people and himself at the Connecticut Lottery.
State Representative Steve Stafstrom, chair of the Judiciary Committee, said the laws save lives.
“Predominantly by preventing suicides by firearm, but these also can be used in situations where it’s possible that someone may be looking at committing a mass shooting.”
The current law allows police and state’s attorneys to petition the court to remove guns from a house. The strengthened bill would extend that to family members and doctors.
And it would put the court order in place indefinitely – not just for a year, as the current law allows. People under the order would have the right to petition to have it lifted.
