Today Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy made an announcement that he would declare an executive order that would prevent anyone that is on yet-to-be-named, secret ‘watch lists’ from exercising their right to armed self-defense by purchasing or carrying a firearm.
The very idea that Governor Malloy seeks to remove constitutional rights without due process using these secret ‘watch lists’ is despicable and unconstitutional. The concept goes against not only against the 5th, 14th and 2nd amendments to our U.S. Constitution, it also goes against the Connecticut Constitution, Article 1, Section 8 and Article 1, Section 15.
These ‘watch lists’ have not been vetted, are not public and are not based on Probable Cause or even Reasonable Articulable Suspicion. Every citizen should have major concerns about any politician who wishes to remove constitutional rights by executive edict simply by putting someone on a list. These confidential lists have zero transparency as no one can see whether they are on the list, why they are on the list, or how to get removed from the list. That doesn’t stop the government from listing over 1 million people on their lists, however. Those lists have included people like Senator Ted Kennedy and others who obviously have no ties to terrorism.
Such a reckless and unmeasured edict would violate Connecticut citizens’ rights to armed self-defense as well as due process.
“Governor Malloy lost his efforts in the legislature to have a list of people that would be denied constitutional rights without oversight or due process. Now he has decided to push a more extreme effort using the wake of a massacre that could not have been prevented with his proposal. And he does this by bypassing and disrespecting our constitution and the legislative process.” - Connecticut Carry President Rich Burgess
“The governor does not have the constitutional authority to deny a state and federal constitutional right. A firearm purchased for use in the home is a core constitutional right and shall not be infringed by Malloy or his mentor Barack Obama. If Governor Malloy believes that if you have done something to make it on these watch lists, then you should not be able to purchase a gun. If you have done something so bad as to be on these lists, why let that person run around free? Arrest them if you have probable cause. ” – Connecticut Carry Director of Legal Affairs Edward Peruta
“This is McCarthyism at its worst. A secret, undocumented list with no way to know how you got on it or how to get off of it. It is just ludicrous.” – Connecticut Carry Treasurer Don Mei Jr.
“This is a knee jerk reaction that will have no impact to crime, violence or the acts of terrorists. A flawed database is a horrible standard to deprive people of their rights to freely travel or possess tool in the furtherance of self-defense. Malloy and his ilk are demonstrating that they don’t care to protect the citizens of Connecticut, only their grandstanding and political posturing to further an agenda of civilian disarmament. Due process and constitutional protections be damned.” – Connecticut Carry Director of Education Ray Johansen
“SEC. 8. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall have a right to be heard by himself and by counsel; to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted by the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process to obtain witnesses in his behalf; to be released on bail upon sufficient security, except in capital offenses, where the proof is evident or the presumption great; and in all prosecutions by indictment or information, to a speedy, public trial by an impartial jury. No person shall be compelled to give evidence against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor shall excessive bail be required nor excessive fines imposed. No person shall be held to answer for any crime, punishable by death or life imprisonment, unless on a presentment or an indictment of a grand jury, except in the armed forces, or in the militia when in actual service in time of war or public danger.” – Article 1, Section 8 – Connecticut Constitution
“SEC. 15. Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state.” – Article 1, Section 15 – Connecticut Constitution
