Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont is pushing for new gun control legislation that would ban the sale of handguns capable of being converted to machine guns, a proposal that has sparked significant debate in the state.

The bill would specifically target what are known as "convertible pistols"—firearms that can be modified to fire automatically. According to supporters of the measure, popular striker-fired pistols like certain Glock models fall under this category due to their design.

However, the proposal has faced considerable opposition from gun owners and Second Amendment advocates. The Hartford Courant reported that gun rights advocates argue the bill would ban popular civilian firearms and represents government overreach into the rights of law-abiding gun owners.

The legislative testimony has been notably lopsided. According to reports on the bill's public hearing, approximately 1,900 people submitted testimony opposing the ban, while only 50 people wrote in support of it.

Connecticut has seen a rise in incidents involving gun violence across communities of varying economic and geographic profiles, according to statements from the Governor's office. Lamont's proposal is framed as one response to these concerns about public safety.

The debate reflects the broader national tension between gun safety advocates seeking to reduce access to weapons capable of automatic fire and Second Amendment supporters who contend that existing gun restrictions fail to adequately address the underlying causes of gun violence.

Sources

CT Gov. Lamont seeking new gun control bill. Here's what it does - Hartford Courant

Bill to ban 'convertible' pistols in CT sees strong opposition - The Connecticut Mirror