Organization Sues CT Police Chiefs Over Gun Permits

HARTFORD, CT — The Connecticut Citizens Defense League (CCDL) announced that it has filed a civil lawsuit against the police chiefs of Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, and Waterbury claiming that they are violating the organization members' right to keep and bear arms, according to a statement.

The CCDL brought the suit after learning that these cities are delaying residents' applications for municipal firearm permits, which is the first step in applying for a state-issued pistol permit. Members in each of the cities are joining the CCDL in the lawsuit.

Holly Sullivan, CCDL president, said in a statement: "In addition to violating these citizen’s constitutional right to access the permitting process, these cities are notorious for violating their resident’s constitutional rights by excessively delaying the application process. The CCDL is standing up for the residents of these cities, many of whom are minorities fighting for their right to keep and bear arms for personal protection. It is unfathomable that those charged with enforcing our laws would so blatantly violate them by delaying the process to exercise a constitutional right.”

The CCDL has 41,000 members and claims that it protects "the unalienable constitutional right of all citizens to keep and bear arms through legislative and grassroots advocacy, education, research, publishing, legal action and programs."

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker spoke to FOX 61 regarding the CCDL, saying, "This group has, in the past, opposed common sense gun safety legislation which enjoyed bipartisan support." He said the group opposed Ethan’s Law, which restricts untraceable ghost guns, and expanded background checks.

Officials in Hartford, Bridgeport, and Waterbury declined to comment on the suit, according to The Middletown Press.