DOJ launches civil-rights probe into gun-permit delays in Connecticut’s Waterbury and Middletown
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced an investigation into whether Waterbury and Middletown are improperly delaying or denying firearm permits.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has opened a federal inquiry into the firearm-permit processes of Waterbury and Middletown, Connecticut, alleging the municipalities may be unnecessarily delaying or refusing pistol permits. In letters to the cities’ mayors and police chiefs, DOJ officials said the review will assess whether local policies violate constitutional rights, citing the 2nd Amendment. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated the right to bear arms is a fundamental liberty for all residents.
Middletown’s Democratic mayor Gene Nocera has not responded, while Waterbury’s Democratic mayor Paul Pernerewski pledged full cooperation. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said his office will defer to local officials for comment. The probe arrives amid broader changes to the DOJ’s civil-rights mission and in a state known for stringent gun-control measures enacted after the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting.
Why it matters
Federal scrutiny of local gun-permit practices could affect how easily Connecticut residents obtain firearms.
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