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Year After Vegas Shooting, Connecticut Bump Stock Ban Takes Effect

GEORGE FREY / GETTY IMAGES

Bump stocks are now banned in Connecticut. That’s the attachment that makes a semi-automatic weapon fire nearly as fast as a fully-automatic machine gun.

The law stems from the mass shooting in Las Vegas, where a gunman used a bump stock to kill 58 concert-goers this time last year.

The new law that went into effect on Monday bans the sale, purchase, possession, and manufacturing of bump stocks as well as other rate of fire enhancements.

Mike Lawlor, Under Secretary for Criminal Justice Policy and Planning, said there are a some exceptions, mainly for military personnel, and a couple of caveats for ordinary gun owners. For instance, if a gun owner acquired a bump stock before the law went into effect but hasn't disposed of it, they would initially be charged with a misdemeanor. But going forward, acquiring one is a class D felony, which is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

“Civilian possession of these items is a crime and is banned,” Lawlor said. “So presumably gun stores that sell them will not only get arrested but probably get shut down, lose their license. People who might consider themselves to be law-abiding citizens who happen to have one of these things won’t be a law-abiding citizen anymore. That jeopardizes their pistol permit and other credentials.”

In a statement, Governor Dannel Malloy said “a patchwork of laws by individual states is not the solution.” He said there needs to be “action on gun violence prevention on a nationwide, federal basis.”

Several other states have approved similar measures including Vermont, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

Lori Connecticut Public's Morning Edition host.

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