Dafr Files Lawsuit Against Governor Malloy

Governor Dannel Malloy’s recent signing of gun control legislation has prompted the Disabled Americans for Firearms Rights group to take legal action.  Attorney Scott D. Camassar, from the Law Firm of Stephen M. Reck of North Stonington, CT, said that “Scott Ennis of New London, and his group Disabled Americans for Firearms Rights, will be filing an action for declaratory judgement against Governor Malloy challenging parts of the newly enacted gun law. Please note this has not been filed in court, or even served yet. It has been delivered to a marshal for service on the Governor through the Attorney General’s office, as required by state statue. We expect it to be served in the coming days, after which it will be filed in court.”  In a press release Camassar stated “I am proud to represent Scott Ennis and Disabled Americans for Firearms Rights in this important case. We share in the goal of making society safer from mass shootings and keeping guns out of the hands of the violently insane.  But Connecticut's new law places too little emphasis on school safety and mental health improvements, while placing far too many burdens of law-abiding gun owners, particularly disabled persons, with no real prospect for keeping guns away from criminals and those who are a threat to themselves and others.  Disabled individuals have unique needs when it comes to lawful use of firearms, whether it be recreational or competitive shooting, hunting, home defense, or personal self-defense, and they rely on safe, customizable firearms like the AR-15 in order to effectively participate in these lawful activities.  Cosmetic features like forward grips and adjustable stocks do not make a rifle more lethal, nor do factory-standard magazines that hold more than 10 bullets. Disabled citizens of Connecticut should not be precluded from using firearms lawfully because of the Governor's desire to enact “the toughest gun laws” in the nation; the Governor needs to accommodate the disabled.  The new law unconstitutionally discriminates against the physically disabled and we intend to hold the State to the clear requirements of Connecticut constitutional and statutory law,” said Camassar.  Specifically the lawsuit states that the “AR-15, due to its ease of handling, low recoil, adjustable features, and customizability, is particularly suited for disabled persons in order to engage in lawful use of firearms.”  In fact, the lawsuit states that the AR-15 is “one of the most commonly owned firearms in America” and that “recent estimates suggest there are approximately 4 million AR-15’s in America, which would include many thousands in Connecticut.”  The goal of the lawsuit is for the court to “enter a declaratory judgement that the Act Concerning Gun Violence Protection and Children’s Safety, in whole or in part, violates the plaintiff’s rights to keep and bear arms, not to be denied the equal protection of the laws, and to be free of discrimination based on physical disability” and to “issue a temporary restraining order and preliminary and permanent injunctions against implementation and enforcement of the Act.”