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He has also introduced legislation Thursday to lower the legal limit for possessing a firearm or hunting under the influence of alcohol.
“This is just common sense – we should be able to work across party lines on these issues. We should be able to agree that a person with a temporary restraining order should not have a deadly weapon. We are either for protecting victims of domestic violence, or against it,” Malloy said. “We should also be able to agree that if you are too drunk to drive, then you’re too drunk to carry a gun. Firearms and alcohol don’t mix. These initiatives are the right thing to do, and I’m proud to introduce them.”
Under current state law, after a temporary restraining order is issued, a hearing must occur before a judge can issue a permanent restraining order and prohibit firearm possession. These hearings often come weeks after the temporary restraining order is issued.
“We can and must do more to protect victims of domestic violence,” Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman said. “A woman in an abusive relationship is five times more likely to be killed if her abuser has access to a firearm. This legislation will help de-escalate dangerous situations, reduce the opportunity for fatalities, and save lives.”
Malloy’s legislation "House Bill 5054, An Act Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence" will make a person temporarily ineligible to possess firearms shortly after a judge issues a temporary restraining order, pending a hearing in court, giving victims additional protection at this critical time. This is a law already enacted in many states.
Another bill Malloy has introduced, "Senate Bill 20, An Act Concerning Carrying a Firearm While Intoxicated or Under the Influence of Alcohol" seeks to conform state laws concerning carrying a firearm under the influence and hunting under the influence, which both currently have a blood alcohol limit of 0.1, with laws on drunk driving and boating, which have a blood alcohol limit of 0.08.
The proposal would reduce the limits for violation of carrying a firearm or hunting under the influence to 0.08, making it consistent with driving and boating laws.
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