Judiciary Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-6491
Title: AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTRONIC DEFENSE WEAPONS.
Vote Date: 4/6/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 3/5/2021
File No.: 575
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
The Judiciary Committee
Rep. Craig C. Fishbein, 90th Dist.,
Rep. Doug Dubitsky, 47th Dist.,
Rep. Travis Simms, 140th Dist,
Rep. Mike France, 42nd Dist.
Sen. Rob Sampson,16th Dist.,
Rep. Brian Lanoue, 45th Dist.
Rep. Jason Perillo, 113th Dist.,
Rep. Cara Christine Pavalock-D'Amato, 77th Dist.
Rep. Gale L. Mastrofrancesco, 80th Dist.
REASONS FOR BILL:
This bill would allow members of the public to possess nonlethal electronic defense weapons
for the purpose of self-defense. In 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case Caetano
v. Massachusetts that electronic defense mechanisms, more commonly known as "stun
guns", are protected under the second amendment, and this change in statute would reflect
that ruling.
SUBSTITUTE LANGUAGE:
The substitute language changes the effective date to July 2022. The substitute language
also makes the sale of nonlethal electronic defense weapons to individuals 21 years of age or
younger a class D felony.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
State of Connecticut, Division of Criminal Justice opposes this bill and states that this bill
should be amended to include a requirement for any operator of an electronic defense
weapon to have a license to carry such a device. It's further testified that the Division is
opposed to removing electronic defense weapons from 53a-217, which is stated as
preventing those who have a previous felony conviction, an outstanding restraining order,
and individuals who have recently been treated for psychiatric disabilities from possessing
certain weapons. The Division recognizes the 2016 U.S. Supreme Court case Caetano v.
Massachusetts which ruled that electronic defense weapons are protected under the second
amendment but does not believe that this ruling would prevent legislation from requiring a
license to carry such weapons.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Connecticut, Resident and Judicial Marshal, Brandon Beaudoin, supports this legislation and
states that it is especially important for victims of domestic violence to be able to protect
themselves and should be afforded the option of a nonlethal weapon.
Connecticut Citizens Defense League, Legislative Coordinator, Ray Bevis supports this bill
and states that this bill is based on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Caetano v.
Massachusetts and that this bill is important for victims of domestic violence to be able to
protect themselves.
Friends of Connecticut Sportsmen, President, Keith Cagle supports this legislation and states
that since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Caetano v. Massachusetts that electronic defense
weapons fall under the protections of the second amendment.
Connecticut Citizens Defense League, President, Holly Sullivan supports this bill and states
that this legislation will allow women who do not carry a firearm to carry a nonlethal means of
protection and be able to better protect themselves from a dangerous situation.
The following people support this bill:
Connecticut Republican Assembly, President, Anne Manusky
Train Safe Academy, Instructor, William Hampton
The following Connecticut Residents support this bill citing the 2016 U.S. Supreme Court
ruling Caetano v. Massachusetts and the desire for personal protection:
James F. Aiello Josh Benoit, U.S. Army Veteran, Somers
Erik Albrycht, Southington John Bernier, Salem
Richard Anziano, Killingworth Jon Betts, Madison
Melanie Atwater-Young, Montville David Bicknell, East Haven
Oliver Augustin, New Haven Christopher Bitel, Middletown
Joseph Aukstolis, Manchester Eric Blaise, Middletown
Harold Ayala, Stratford Alan Blaschik, East Haddam
Erik Barboza, Uncasville Karin Blaschik, East Haddam
Eric Barkhurst, Plainfield Sara Blaschik, Chester
Dom Basile, Oakville Rev. Ron Boratko, Torrington
Willard Bechter, Newington Wayne Botha, South Windsor
John F. Beidler, Southington Richard Boucher
Patricia A. Beidler, Southington Jim Bucci, New Haven
Stephen Bennett, New Haven Lorie C., Thomaston
Nicolas Cabrera, East Hartford Ted Grabarz, New Canaan
Robert Caponetti, Warren Martin Grabeck, Wethersfield
Armond Cardillo, Oxford Joseph Grzesiak, South Windsor
Tom Casey Walter Hagedorn, Milford
John Castiline, Hamden Mark Hansen, Shelton
Chas Catania, Sherman Bill Hillman, Bethel
David Cinquanta, Guilford Diane Hodyl, East Hartford
Mark Ciosek, New Britain Ted Hsu
Carlos Claudio Domenico Iacobelli, West Haven
Eryka L. Claudio Kenneth Jacque, Meriden
Shane Coates, South Windsor Paul D. Jakubson, Clinton
Heather Colletti, Preston Tim Johnson, Old Saybrook
Anthony J. DeTullio Sr., Milford Michael Jurkowski, Derby
Tony Costanzo, Wethersfield James Kalach, Cheshire
Guy Cranfill Christopher Kalkreuth, Higganum
John Cripps, Seymour Scott Kasper, Killingworth
Jeff Cruz, Newtown Anthony Kearns, Durham
Jeff Cullins, Lisbon John Kershaw, Stratford
Richard Czackowski, Guilford Jeff Kersten, West Hartford
Robert D'Eon, Middletown John Kissane
Susan DAgostino, Niantic Douglas Kneissl, Derby
Arthur Daigle, Plymouth John Koch III, Shelton
John Dale III, Cromwell Andrew Koehm, Brookfield
Eddie H. Daniels III, Law Enforcement John C. Kornegay, Barkhamsted
Officer Mark Kosobiecki, Milford
Ruth A. Daniels Craig Kumiega, Manchester
Tiffany Daniels Craig Kupson
Victor Darin, Branford Meg Kupson
Gabriel DaSilva Dr. Walter Kupson, Middlebury
James Davis, North Branford C. Marcella Kurowski, Wallingford
Anthony Deleonardo, Guilford William R. Lacey, New London
James Dempsey Vincent Lafragola, East Haven
Joseph DeTullio, Milford Chris Lambert, Brooklyn
Guthrie Dinda, Lebanon Kenia Lanuzo
Roy D. Downey, Higganum Howard Larson, Tolland
Elizabeth Drysdale, Cheshire Robert Lavezzoli, Killingworth
Scott Emanuelson, Waterford Cheryl Lemos, Stratford
Mark Eskra, Middletown Christopher Lent, Columbia
Mario Fansano Michael Levin, New Canaan
Richard B. Fisher, Newtown April Limauro, Guilford
Jeff Fluckiger, Ellington Marino A. Limauro, Guilford
Richard Forest Bruce Lindsley, Bristol
Manuel Freitas, East Lyme Dana Longley, North Haven
Maria Freitas, East Lyme Jose A. Lozada
Tracey G., Wethersfield Cecilia Luzzi, New Haven
Robert Gabris, Brookfield Shawn J. Luzzi, New Haven
Mark Georger, Farmington Ed Maccio
Kyle Gless, Waterford Aaron Maitz, Avon
Ronald Goodmaster, Naugatuck Brendan Malone, Suffield
Tom Maloney, Stonington Arthur E. Robinson III
Dan Marcil, Thomaston Priscilla Rodriguez, East Haven
Robert Margolis, Avon Jessica Rogers
Edwin Martinez Bryan Rome, Granby
Frank Mastriano, East Haven Frank Russello, Guilford
Janice Mastriano, East Haven Jon Russo
Richard W. Mayhew, Plantsville Eric Rustic, Thompson
Laurene Y. McCrann, Southington Robert Saunders, Thomaston
Kristen A. McNulty, Wolcott William Scarpa, Guilford
Paul McVey Richard A. Shea Jr., Prospect
Laura Michalek Edward M. Singleton
George Mitchell, Southington Jermaine Smoakes
Jeffrey Moores, Farmington Richard Souza, East Hartford
Patricia Moores, Farmington Robert Starr, Torrington
Luis Nesprido, Southington Darryl Steding, Stafford
Zac Neville Pavel Straznicky MD, Southington
Anthony North, Bloomfield Gary M. Sylvestre, Glastonbury
Robert J. O'Connell, Southington Arthur Tiede, Southington
William Oliver Pablo Torres, Guilford
Gabriel Palmieri, North Haven Mark Trotochaud, Oakdale
Joe Parillo Deborah Vai
Robert G. Paris, Lebanon Santo Veneziano
Jacqueline Pasqualucci, Woodbury Christopher Vereneau, Middletown
Joseph Pasqualucci, Woodbury Michael Veronese, East Hampton
Randall Pawlikowski, Lisbon Alan Verrastro, Berlin
Armando Perruc, Weatogue Carli Villa, East Hampton
Ada Perez, Bridgeport Wayne Waldron
Diane F. Petra Bridget Waldron
Guido L. Petra Joan Walker, Madison
Allen F. Petri John Walters, Trumbull
Michael Phelan, Madison William C. Waterhouse, Mystic
Thomas Phelps, Lisbon Daniel Watson, Norwich
W.D. Polowy, Northfield Kurt Weisheit, Terryvile
Christina D. Poole, Branford Dan Whalen
Daniel Poole, Southbury George Michael White
Frederick Porrello, Branford Eugene Williams, Bristol
Mario Proto, Branford Matthew Winters, Burlington
Robert J. Prusak, Wilton Kris Witherill
Joe Pugliese, Plantsville Claire Wong-Ostapowicz, Wallingford
Benjamin Purdy, Simsbury Francisco Yao, Hartford
John Quimby, North Haven
Richard J. Quinn, Bethel
Jason Radice, Norwalk
Valerie Ragucci, Plantsville
Thomas Reed, Higganum
Jerry Richard, Deep River
James Ritchie, Bristol
Audrey Roberts, Higganum
Ronald Robeson, Preston
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
The following people oppose this bill:
Old Saybrook CT, Resident, Guy LaBella
CT Resident, Sean Rossi
Stratford CT, Resident, Ronald Prusaczyk
Quaker Hill CT, Resident, Adam Atchison-Lynde
Wethersfield CT, Resident, Elizabeth Baio
Reported by: Justin Kaiser Date: 4/14/2021


Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
JUD Joint Favorable Substitute: 29-38, 53-206
File No. 575: 29-38, 53-206
File No. 690: 29-38, 53-206
Public Act No. 21-31: 29-38, 53-206