Someone freaks out at sight of pistol at Middletown, Conn. City Hall

In Connecticut, it is legal to carry a pistol either openly or concealed as long as you have a Connecticut Pistol Permit. If you call the police and complain about someone carrying a pistol walking down the street, or running errands at City Hall, the standard reply should be “that would be completely legal to do.” Not the case in Middletown, Conn. today.

A license is required to drive a car. A boating certificate is required to operate a vessel registered in Connecticut. Does that mean law enforcement can pull you over on the road or water to simply confirm you have a license? As far as I know the answer is no, they can’t just pull you over to confirm you have a license or certificate.

The same goes for carrying a pistol in the State of Connecticut. As a matter of fact, the Connecticut State Police sent notice concerning the subject to Capital Police in April 2010 prior to a Second Amendment rally. They were informed they should not ask rally attendees to produce their pistol permit unless they were the subject of a law enforcement investigation for a different reason.

Middletown Police did not get the message. A call was made to police complaining about someone carrying a gun. They were uncomfortable. The article makes no mention of the man “brandishing” the pistol or causing a disturbance. Yet police responded with guns drawn.

A man – who was later identified as a retired state trooper – was surrounded by officers who drew their weapons, police said. After an investigation into the suspect, police found that he had a valid state pistol permit and did not violate any laws.

Exit question: What would have the result been if the man was not a retired state trooper? Middletown Police … what say you? Do you consider it standard procedure to respond with guns drawn when someone is uncomfortable?

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Steve McGough

Steve's a part-time conservative blogger. Steve grew up in Connecticut and has lived in Washington, D.C. and the Bahamas. He resides in Connecticut, where he’s comfortable six months of the year.

5 Comments

  1. Dimsdale on February 24, 2011 at 12:08 am

    Does the accused get to face his accuser?? From the story, I probably can’t blame the cops, as they likely got some hysterical call from progressive that made it sound like it was a reenactment of the Valentine’s Day massacre.



  2. Tim-in-Alabama on February 24, 2011 at 3:38 am

    Why are there such pantywaists about guns in an area that has manufactured millions of firearms? I own guns from two Connecticut companies and another just across the line in Springfield, MA.



  3. Steve M on February 24, 2011 at 7:31 am

    I want to hear the 911 call if there is one. My guess … someone has already put the request in for it.



  4. PatRiot on February 24, 2011 at 4:27 pm

    Cars, swimming pools, electricity and gasoline can be dangerous and lethal.  Yet with some education and responsible handling, they can all be used safely.  Firearms fall into this same category.



  5. Shared Sacrifice on February 25, 2011 at 5:19 pm

    I'll bet it was a Wesleyan student… If Obama had a civilian police force duck marching down Main St., they'd celebrate.



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