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An answer from DPS regarding 'carry'

MGoduto

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After my recent encounter with an off-duty Suffield police officer, I sat down at my computer and composed a question to the folks at the Special Licenses and Firearms Unit of the DPS. My question was:

...I recently had an encounter with an off-duty Town Of Suffield police officer who insisted that the 'State Permit To Carry...' is a 'concealed carry only' permit. I've read throughmy copy of the'Reference Guide' and can find nothing that mandates concealment...could you please direct me to where I might find information to confirm (or not) the statement that this officer made?

The aboveisquestion number three that I wrotein my email; I sent it off on Sunday night. I found an answer in my inbox on Tuesday morning from Detective T. M. Karanda; he wrote:

...the permit to carry issue will hopefully be resolved shortly as to how the firearm is to be carried, concealed or not. We are waiting for a declaratory ruling to facts concerning the carry issue...

It appears that theDPSis backing away from previous statements regarding open versus concealed carry.

What does everyone think??
 

dbernor

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About time! :celebrate

Nice to see that DPS may in fact realize what everyone else has for awhile now that they need to enforce the ACTUAL laws and statues and not whatever fits their whim.
 

MGoduto

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JUMPMASTER wrote:
MGoduto, can you post your complete email that you sent and the complete response?

Sure.

Here's the email I sent:



Good evening.


I have a question concerning where a pistol or revolver cannot be carried by someone (like myself) who has a 'State Permit To Carry Pistols and Revolvers'. I've been looking through the '2006 Connecticut Firearms Laws Reference Guide' and aside from the prohibitions found in 53a-217b ('Possession Of A Weapon On School Grounds') I can't find a list of prohibited locations.

If you fine folks at the DPS have such a list, could I please have a copy, or be pointed to whereI might find this information? And if there's a more-current 'Firearms Laws Reference Guide' than the 2006 edition that I have, could I get one of those too?

And finally, I realize that the DPS does not issue legal opinions, but I recently had an encounter with an off-duty Town Of Suffield police officer who insisted that the 'State Permit To Carry...' is a 'concealed carry only' permit. I've read throughmy copy of the'Reference Guide' and can find nothing that mandates concealment. I have no desire to violate the law by doing something prohibited; could you please direct me to where I might find information to confirm (or not) the statement that this offier made?

Thanks for your attention, and stay safe.




And here's the response from Detective Karanda:



Dear Mr. xxxxx,

We will refer you to the Connecticut General statutes concerning the firearm carry issues. The firearm may be carried in any place as long as it is not prohibited by law. The permit to carry issue will hopefully be resolved shortly as to how the firearm is to be carried, concealed or not. We are waiting for a declaratory ruling to facts concerning the carry issue. I hope this information will assist you.



Det. T. M. Karanda

Connecticut State Police

Special Licensing and Firearms Unit
 

buketdude

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As far as Off Limits places..all i know is K-12 Schools, the State Capitol and the only place I have seen signs are the Casino's.....i would leave it in your vehicle if you are there..
 

JUMPMASTER

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I really wonder about the whole school thing. The law states that:

Sec. 53a-217b. Possession of a weapon on school grounds: Class D felony. (a) A person is guilty of possession of a weapon on school grounds when, knowing that such person is not licensed or privileged to do so, such person possesses a firearm or deadly weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, (1) in or on the real property comprising a public or private elementary or secondary school, or (2) at a school-sponsored activity as defined in subsection (h) of section 10-233a.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the otherwise lawful possession of a firearm (1) by a person for use in a program approved by school officials in or on such school property or at such school-sponsored activity, (2) by a person in accordance with an agreement entered into between school officials and such person or such person's employer, (3) by a peace officer, as defined in subdivision (9) of section 53a-3, while engaged in the performance of such peace officer's official duties, or (4) by a person while traversing such school property for the purpose of gaining access to public or private lands open to hunting or for other lawful purposes, provided such firearm is not loaded and the entry on such school property is permitted by the local or regional board of education.

(c) Possession of a weapon on school grounds is a class D felony.


My question is how do you get a license to carry on school grounds. I can't find one anywhere. I've seen many police officers including state police who go to a school sporting such as basketball or volleyball to watch their children play. You can't tell me that they are engaged in performing their offical duties while in that capacity yet I still see them carrying a weapon. I've never seen any signs posted on any schools that I have been tothat forbid a person from carrying a firearm.
 

MGoduto

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buketdude wrote:
As far as Off Limits places..all i know is K-12 Schools, the State Capitol and the only place I have seen signs are the Casino's.....i would leave it in your vehicle if you are there..
I'm always nervous about leaving my sidearm unattended and lockedin my car; that whole 'theft' concern.Pluswho knows what it would do if I wasn't constantly supervising!
 

buketdude

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I believe there used to be an exception for permit holders on school grounds and they got rid of that...

Ya..i hear ya on the whole locking up thing...i just remember seeing the signs at every entrance at mohegan for no firearms...so i never carried on in..not sure the consequences..
 

MGoduto

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JUMPMASTER wrote:
I really wonder about the whole school thing. The law states that:

Sec. 53a-217b. Possession of a weapon on school grounds: Class D felony. (a) A person is guilty of possession of a weapon on school grounds when, knowing that such person is not licensed or privileged to do so, such person possesses a firearm or deadly weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, (1) in or on the real property comprising a public or private elementary or secondary school, or (2) at a school-sponsored activity as defined in subsection (h) of section 10-233a.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the otherwise lawful possession of a firearm (1) by a person for use in a program approved by school officials in or on such school property or at such school-sponsored activity, (2) by a person in accordance with an agreement entered into between school officials and such person or such person's employer, (3) by a peace officer, as defined in subdivision (9) of section 53a-3, while engaged in the performance of such peace officer's official duties, or (4) by a person while traversing such school property for the purpose of gaining access to public or private lands open to hunting or for other lawful purposes, provided such firearm is not loaded and the entry on such school property is permitted by the local or regional board of education.

(c) Possession of a weapon on school grounds is a class D felony.


My question is how do you get a license to carry on school grounds. I can't find one anywhere. I've seen many police officers including state police who go to a school sporting such as basketball or volleyball to watch their children play. You can't tell me that they are engaged in performing their offical duties while in that capacity yet I still see them carrying a weapon. I've never seen any signs posted on any schools that I have been tothat forbid a person from carrying a firearm.

I think the Office Of Legislative Research said it best when they wrotethat '...the law does not address this...'regarding a number of questions, including OC.

There's a lack of clarity in this state regarding firearms law that I find annoying and disturbing. I hope thatthe upcoming declaratory ruling regarding OC fixes at least some of it. It gets oldhavinggun-fearing-wussies scream 'breach of the peace' if they catch sight of your Sig or Glock.
 

bradco

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My preferred is Concealed, but this is good news as I would also like to not have to worry about MWAG call for printing or the wind blowing open my jacket
 

MGoduto

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bradco wrote:
My preferred is Concealed, but this is good news as I would also like to not have to worry about MWAG call for printing or the wind blowing open my jacket

Cool. I conceal when I'm out with The Missus.

Being charged with 'breach of the peace' because a gun-fearing wussie wet their shorts at the sight of a lawfully and peacefully carried sidearm (concealed or not) is such a crock of shit. Both the 'breach of the peace' and the 'disorderly conduct' statutes include the phrase '...with intent to cause...' or some such wording.A gust of wind isn't intent and neither is reaching up or bending over.

Remember 'James Goldberg and The Glastonbury Chili's Incident'?? A perfect example of that bullsit, according to what's been posted by his lawyer. Aside from some questionable fashion sense the guy was sitting waiting for take-out food and he's charged with BOP??

I hope he gets a nice award of damages for what was done to him.
 

MGoduto

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buketdude wrote:
I believe there used to be an exception for permit holders on school grounds and they got rid of that...

Ya..i hear ya on the whole locking up thing...i just remember seeing the signs at every entrance at mohegan for no firearms...so i never carried on in..not sure the consequences..
I never brought a sidearm to the casinos. That changed when folks started getting assaulted and robbed in the parking garages. My S&W Model 442 is just the right size for a IWB holster and a two year old could pop the glove box in my car. I might take a trip to Cabelas and see if they have a lockbox for a car.
 

LKB3rd

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I think this was taught in my permit class, but I may have read it somewhere re:casino carry. It isn't banned but they say you need to call the state police and tell them before you do it. I have not heard of anyone following through on this, and I'd be curious to know what they say.
 

JUMPMASTER

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I know that at Mohegan Sun in the Arena (where the basketball and concert are held) is marked as no weapons and you get padded down. I don't know about the rest of the place. I would think that since they have a hotel for people to stay that they would allow a firearm on the property in order allow tourists to stay there. I believe that you have to follow their Tribal law. It would be best to call their legal office and ask them if it's legal to bring a weapon on to their land.
 

GoldCoaster

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JUMPMASTER wrote:
I know that at Mohegan Sun in the Arena (where the basketball and concert are held) is marked as no weapons and you get padded down. I don't know about the rest of the place. I would think that since they have a hotel for people to stay that they would allow a firearm on the property in order allow tourists to stay there. I believe that you have to follow their Tribal law. It would be best to call their legal office and ask them if it's legal to bring a weapon on to their land.
This is absolutely the best (definitive) answer. The tribe is treated as a sovereign nation and the CSP and local cops have to be invited on to the res by the tribal police when there is an incident. I did a business show there a couple of years ago and worked closely with a few of the employees and they told me about how things work up there regarding police.

You always have a choice, if you don't like their rules you can go elsewhere or leave the pistol locked in the lockbox in the car - not that it does you any good between the casino and the car when it's locked up like that.
 

buketdude

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Next time you go as you walk in (any of the doors I have been through) you will notice a brown sign in the middle..among other things it says "NO FIREARMS".....
 
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