While some states like New Hampshire and Alabama are making access to guns easier for everyone, other states like Connecticut are moving to do the opposite.
Connecticut’s Democratic governor, Dannel Malloy, wants to make the fees for a handgun permit more than four times as expensive as they already are. Currently, Connecticut charges $140 and $170 for a renewal every five years. Local offices keep $70 of that. Malloy wants the local (State) offices to be able to keep $300 of each permit. This would mean that the permit fees would hike drastically up to $370 and $300 for a renewal.
Malloy says the increased fees are need to keep pace with the record numbers of people who are applying for guns, which means more work for the state employees who have to process the paperwork and background checks. His new fees would add $9 million to the state’s bank each year.
He also wants to raise the cost of background checks from $50 to $75. Since a background check is a mandatory part of a handgun permit, that means a person seeking a new gun permit would pay $445 in fees for a five-year permit if his fee hike is approved. Training in Connecticut is also mandatory, which means an additional expense for the gun owner.
Interestingly, Malloy wants to remove 161 positions from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection — the agency that oversees the state police and gun permitting.
But wait, there’s more! Malloy also wants to raise land recording filings from $3 to $10 and cremation certificates from $150 to $200, so he’s not just picking on gun owners. He’s trying to close a $1.7 million budget shortfall.
The hike in gun fees prompted the NRA to say the increase would lead to an unconstitutional financial barrier for people who want to exercise their Second Amendment rights. The budget negotiations will be ongoing over the next couple of months. We’ll keep you posted on what the final decision is.
