Governor signs bill on lost and stolen guns

HARTFORD, Conn. --Gov. M. Jodi Rell has approved a new law that will penalize gun owners if they fail to report lost or stolen firearms to police within 72 hours.

The legislation was the culmination of a three-year effort to reduce the number of stolen guns being used in crimes across Connecticut. The law takes effect Oct. 1, joining similar ones already on the books in Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Rhode Island. Other states are also considering such proposals.

Under the new law, a first-time failure to report a lost or stolen gun within 72 hours of discovering it is missing is an infraction, punishable by a fine up to $90. Any subsequent, unintentional failure to report a lost or stolen gun is a felony that carries a prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of up to $5,000.

If gun owners intentionally fail to report lost or stolen guns, they could be sent to prison for up to 10 years.

"Right now, police are powerless if they trace a gun used in a crime back to its owner and the owner claims it was stolen," Rell said in a statement released Sunday. "This law targets irresponsible gun owners in an attempt to stem the tide of stolen guns used in crimes."

Opponents of the bill said it would only make it more onerous for law-abiding citizens to own guns in Connecticut. There are about 140,000 to 150,000 pistol permit holders in the state.

Lawmakers said there have been problems with unscrupulous gun owners lying to police about their guns being stolen after they were used in crimes.