if you read this please tell me what you think of it
For this assignment I have chosen Connecticut statute 53-206. This statute is titled Carrying and Sale of Dangerous Weapons. Statute 53-206 appears in the listing of Connecticuts firearm laws, however this statute does not regulate firearms. The text of the law is as follows:
Sec. 53-206. Carrying and sale of dangerous weapons. (a) Any person who carries upon his person any slung shot, air rifle, BB. gun, blackjack, sand bag, metal or brass knuckles, or any dirk knife, or any switch knife, or any knife having an automatic spring release device by which a blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches in length, or stiletto, or any knife the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches or over in length, or any martial arts weapon or electronic defense weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument, unless such person has been granted a written permit issued and signed by the first selectman of a town, the mayor or chief of police of a city or the warden of a borough, authorizing such person to carry such weapon or instrument within such town, city or borough, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than three years or both. No permit shall be issued to any applicant who has ever been convicted of a felony. The issuing authority may request the applicant's fingerprints and full information concerning his criminal record and make an investigation concerning the suitability of the applicant to carry any such weapon. Refusal of fingerprinting by the applicant shall be sufficient cause to refuse issuance of a permit. Whenever any person is found guilty of a violation of this subsection, any weapon or other implement within the provisions hereof, found upon the body of such person, shall be forfeited to the municipality wherein such person was apprehended, notwithstanding any failure of the judgment of conviction to expressly impose such forfeiture.
Any person who has been granted a permit to carry any martial arts weapon pursuant to this section may carry such weapon anywhere within the state. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any officer charged with the preservation of the public peace nor to any person who is found with any such weapon or implement concealed upon his person while lawfully removing his household goods or effects from one place to another, or from one residence to another, nor to any person while actually and peaceably engaged in carrying any such weapon or implement from his place of abode or business to a place or person where or by whom such weapon or implement is to be repaired, or while actually and peaceably returning to his place of abode or business with such weapon or implement after the same has been repaired.
(b) Any person who sells to another a slung shot, air rifle, BB. gun, blackjack, sand bag, metal or brass knuckles, or any dirk knife, or any switch knife, or any knife having an automatic spring release device by which the blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches in length, or stiletto, or any martial arts weapon or electronic defense weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, shall, within twenty-four hours after the delivery of such weapon or implement to the person to whom sold, give written notice of such sale or delivery,
specifying the article sold and the name and address of the person to whom sold or delivered, to the chief of police of the city, the warden of the borough or the first selectman of the town, within which such weapon or implement is sold or delivered, as the case may be. Any person who violates any provision of this subsection shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars.
This statute is divided into two sub-sections. The first section of this statute prohibits the carrying of slung shot, air rifles, BB. guns, blackjacks, sand bags, metal or brass knuckles, or any dirk knife, or any switch knife, or any knife having an automatic spring release device by which a blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches in length, or stiletto, or any knife the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches or over in length, or any martial arts weapon or electronic defense weapon, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument without a permit.
Slung shot would refer to a pouch filled with a heavy material, such as rocks or coins to be used as a weapon. A blackjack would most likely be a collapsing baton. Dirk knives most likely refers to any large fixed blade knife capable of being used for the purpose of causing death or great bodily harm. The most common example of a dirk type blade would be a large bowie knife. A stiletto is a long double-edged fixed blade with a double edge and a sharp point designed as a stabbing implement. Martial art weapons would include but are not limited to swords, staffs, throwing stars and nunchucks. An electronic defense weapon is a device that renders a person temporarily immobile by the use of an electrical impulse or current. Although included in the text of this law, as available from the Connecticut State Library web-sight, Public Act 98-129 removed sandbag, air rifles and slung shot from this law.
Permits to carry these weapons can be obtained from the mayor of the city or the police chief of the town the applicant lives. These permits are valid statewide. No permits may be issued to anyone that has committed a felony. The applicants criminal history and fingerprints must be made available to the issuing authority. Refusal to be fingerprinted is sufficient cause to refuse a permit application. The penalty for carrying any of these weapons without a permit is a five hundred-dollar fine or three years in prison, or both. Whenever a person is found guilty of violating this statute the weapon carried shall be forfeited to the city where the person was apprehended if the person is found guilty.
This statute does not apply to peace officers, nor does it apply to anyone in the process of lawfully removing their household goods or effects from one place to another, or from one residence to another and it does not apply to anyone carrying one of these weapons so that it may be repaired, so long as that person is actually and peaceably transporting the weapon to or from the place of repair.
The second section of this statute requires all dealers of such weaponry to, within twenty-four hours, provide a written notice of sale or delivery, specifying the article sold and the name and address of the person to whom the weapon was sold or delivered, to the chief of police of the city where the weapon was sold or delivered. The penalty for failing to provide such a notice of sale is a fine of one hundred dollars.
I was unable to find the date which this statute became law in Connecticut, however I was able to find that it dated back to at least 1907. The reason why this law was passed is very clear. The weapons prohibited here are no less dangerous than a firearm. At a close distance, a person armed with anyone of these weapons can do a significant amount of damage. In close quarters, these weapons are very fast to employ, which means simple fistfights can escalate in the level of violence used quite quickly.
Connecticut State law is very much like the laws of other states in the matters of which weapons are restricted. Connecticut is slightly more restrictive than other states laws in the matter of blade size for folding knives. Connecticut law specifies blade edge length limits, that limit being four inches, where as Massachusetts state law, chapter 269 section 10(b), does not specify a blade limit or an edge length limit, but only that the a knife with a locking blade not be able to be drawn with the blade in the locked position.
In the matter of mentioning in the statute which martial art weapons are restricted, Connecticut has many of the same weapons listed as other states do. The list of martial art weapons varies from state to state, however, from my research the names of the most popular martial art weapons in media are usually present. Those weapons usually mentioned are the nunchacku and the shuriken, or more commonly known as the throwing star. Connecticut and Massachusetts laws have provisions for a permit for martial art weapons on the statutes. California has no such provision in its statutes.
I believe the Connecticut statute should be amended only in one way. The change I propose to make would be to the section of the statute that deals with the edge limit of folding knives. I would like to see it replaced with something similar to the Massachusetts State law which requires that folding knives can not be drawn from any case or sheath with the blade in a locked position. Even knives equipped with thumb studs or blade holes require time to draw and open, allowing time for other people to withdraw or prepare a defense.
All other section of this law I feel should be left alone. The state does not ask that much of its citizens by asking them to refrain from carrying nunchacku, blackjacks or bowie knives without a permit. This law serves the states interest in limiting the right of carrying weapons to citizens without a felony conviction. The smartest thing this law does, in my opinion, is that it allows an option for people that would like to protect themselves, but do not feel comfortable carrying a gun and would like an option other than unarmed self-defense.
WORKS CITED
American Handgunner Magazine, March/April 1998, Cutting Edge Knifemaker, Patrick Covert & Cameron Hopkins, page 70
Connecticut General Statutes Annotated, Revision of 1958, volume 28, West Publishing CO., St Paul Minnesota
Connecticut State Library WebPage Connecticut General Statutes, revised to 1997 http://www.cslnet.ctstateu.edu/statutes/title53/t53-p7.htm
Connecticut General Assembly, Office of Legislative Research
http://www.cga.state.ct.us/ps98/rpt/olr/98-r-0803.doc
General Laws of Massachusetts, Chapter 269: Section 10. http://www.magnet.state.ma.us/legis/laws/mgl/269%2D10.htm
[This message has been edited by memnoch (edited 30 November 1998).]
For this assignment I have chosen Connecticut statute 53-206. This statute is titled Carrying and Sale of Dangerous Weapons. Statute 53-206 appears in the listing of Connecticuts firearm laws, however this statute does not regulate firearms. The text of the law is as follows:
Sec. 53-206. Carrying and sale of dangerous weapons. (a) Any person who carries upon his person any slung shot, air rifle, BB. gun, blackjack, sand bag, metal or brass knuckles, or any dirk knife, or any switch knife, or any knife having an automatic spring release device by which a blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches in length, or stiletto, or any knife the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches or over in length, or any martial arts weapon or electronic defense weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument, unless such person has been granted a written permit issued and signed by the first selectman of a town, the mayor or chief of police of a city or the warden of a borough, authorizing such person to carry such weapon or instrument within such town, city or borough, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than three years or both. No permit shall be issued to any applicant who has ever been convicted of a felony. The issuing authority may request the applicant's fingerprints and full information concerning his criminal record and make an investigation concerning the suitability of the applicant to carry any such weapon. Refusal of fingerprinting by the applicant shall be sufficient cause to refuse issuance of a permit. Whenever any person is found guilty of a violation of this subsection, any weapon or other implement within the provisions hereof, found upon the body of such person, shall be forfeited to the municipality wherein such person was apprehended, notwithstanding any failure of the judgment of conviction to expressly impose such forfeiture.
Any person who has been granted a permit to carry any martial arts weapon pursuant to this section may carry such weapon anywhere within the state. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any officer charged with the preservation of the public peace nor to any person who is found with any such weapon or implement concealed upon his person while lawfully removing his household goods or effects from one place to another, or from one residence to another, nor to any person while actually and peaceably engaged in carrying any such weapon or implement from his place of abode or business to a place or person where or by whom such weapon or implement is to be repaired, or while actually and peaceably returning to his place of abode or business with such weapon or implement after the same has been repaired.
(b) Any person who sells to another a slung shot, air rifle, BB. gun, blackjack, sand bag, metal or brass knuckles, or any dirk knife, or any switch knife, or any knife having an automatic spring release device by which the blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches in length, or stiletto, or any martial arts weapon or electronic defense weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, shall, within twenty-four hours after the delivery of such weapon or implement to the person to whom sold, give written notice of such sale or delivery,
specifying the article sold and the name and address of the person to whom sold or delivered, to the chief of police of the city, the warden of the borough or the first selectman of the town, within which such weapon or implement is sold or delivered, as the case may be. Any person who violates any provision of this subsection shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars.
This statute is divided into two sub-sections. The first section of this statute prohibits the carrying of slung shot, air rifles, BB. guns, blackjacks, sand bags, metal or brass knuckles, or any dirk knife, or any switch knife, or any knife having an automatic spring release device by which a blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches in length, or stiletto, or any knife the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches or over in length, or any martial arts weapon or electronic defense weapon, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument without a permit.
Slung shot would refer to a pouch filled with a heavy material, such as rocks or coins to be used as a weapon. A blackjack would most likely be a collapsing baton. Dirk knives most likely refers to any large fixed blade knife capable of being used for the purpose of causing death or great bodily harm. The most common example of a dirk type blade would be a large bowie knife. A stiletto is a long double-edged fixed blade with a double edge and a sharp point designed as a stabbing implement. Martial art weapons would include but are not limited to swords, staffs, throwing stars and nunchucks. An electronic defense weapon is a device that renders a person temporarily immobile by the use of an electrical impulse or current. Although included in the text of this law, as available from the Connecticut State Library web-sight, Public Act 98-129 removed sandbag, air rifles and slung shot from this law.
Permits to carry these weapons can be obtained from the mayor of the city or the police chief of the town the applicant lives. These permits are valid statewide. No permits may be issued to anyone that has committed a felony. The applicants criminal history and fingerprints must be made available to the issuing authority. Refusal to be fingerprinted is sufficient cause to refuse a permit application. The penalty for carrying any of these weapons without a permit is a five hundred-dollar fine or three years in prison, or both. Whenever a person is found guilty of violating this statute the weapon carried shall be forfeited to the city where the person was apprehended if the person is found guilty.
This statute does not apply to peace officers, nor does it apply to anyone in the process of lawfully removing their household goods or effects from one place to another, or from one residence to another and it does not apply to anyone carrying one of these weapons so that it may be repaired, so long as that person is actually and peaceably transporting the weapon to or from the place of repair.
The second section of this statute requires all dealers of such weaponry to, within twenty-four hours, provide a written notice of sale or delivery, specifying the article sold and the name and address of the person to whom the weapon was sold or delivered, to the chief of police of the city where the weapon was sold or delivered. The penalty for failing to provide such a notice of sale is a fine of one hundred dollars.
I was unable to find the date which this statute became law in Connecticut, however I was able to find that it dated back to at least 1907. The reason why this law was passed is very clear. The weapons prohibited here are no less dangerous than a firearm. At a close distance, a person armed with anyone of these weapons can do a significant amount of damage. In close quarters, these weapons are very fast to employ, which means simple fistfights can escalate in the level of violence used quite quickly.
Connecticut State law is very much like the laws of other states in the matters of which weapons are restricted. Connecticut is slightly more restrictive than other states laws in the matter of blade size for folding knives. Connecticut law specifies blade edge length limits, that limit being four inches, where as Massachusetts state law, chapter 269 section 10(b), does not specify a blade limit or an edge length limit, but only that the a knife with a locking blade not be able to be drawn with the blade in the locked position.
In the matter of mentioning in the statute which martial art weapons are restricted, Connecticut has many of the same weapons listed as other states do. The list of martial art weapons varies from state to state, however, from my research the names of the most popular martial art weapons in media are usually present. Those weapons usually mentioned are the nunchacku and the shuriken, or more commonly known as the throwing star. Connecticut and Massachusetts laws have provisions for a permit for martial art weapons on the statutes. California has no such provision in its statutes.
I believe the Connecticut statute should be amended only in one way. The change I propose to make would be to the section of the statute that deals with the edge limit of folding knives. I would like to see it replaced with something similar to the Massachusetts State law which requires that folding knives can not be drawn from any case or sheath with the blade in a locked position. Even knives equipped with thumb studs or blade holes require time to draw and open, allowing time for other people to withdraw or prepare a defense.
All other section of this law I feel should be left alone. The state does not ask that much of its citizens by asking them to refrain from carrying nunchacku, blackjacks or bowie knives without a permit. This law serves the states interest in limiting the right of carrying weapons to citizens without a felony conviction. The smartest thing this law does, in my opinion, is that it allows an option for people that would like to protect themselves, but do not feel comfortable carrying a gun and would like an option other than unarmed self-defense.
WORKS CITED
American Handgunner Magazine, March/April 1998, Cutting Edge Knifemaker, Patrick Covert & Cameron Hopkins, page 70
Connecticut General Statutes Annotated, Revision of 1958, volume 28, West Publishing CO., St Paul Minnesota
Connecticut State Library WebPage Connecticut General Statutes, revised to 1997 http://www.cslnet.ctstateu.edu/statutes/title53/t53-p7.htm
Connecticut General Assembly, Office of Legislative Research
http://www.cga.state.ct.us/ps98/rpt/olr/98-r-0803.doc
General Laws of Massachusetts, Chapter 269: Section 10. http://www.magnet.state.ma.us/legis/laws/mgl/269%2D10.htm
[This message has been edited by memnoch (edited 30 November 1998).]