Board of Firearms Permit Examiners

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At a Glance

 

JOSEPH T. CORRADINO, Esq., Chairman

Chief T. William Knapp, (Ret.), Secretary

Established - 1967

Statutory authority - CGS Section 29-32b

Office address - 505 Hudson Street, 5th floor,

            Hartford, CT 06106

Number of employees – One

Recurring operating expenses - $84,718.56 includes personnel (01), other expenses (02)

Organizational structure - Seven Volunteer Board Members appointed by Governor

 

 

Mission

The Board is an independent agency or civilian review board. The Board has the authority to overturn or uphold the decision of the Issuing Authority, which includes State and local law enforcement, revoke or deny a pistol permit.

 

The Board of Firearms Permit Examiners mission is to provide a means of appeal, through administrative hearings, for those have been denied a pistol permit or had their permit revoked, and to help effect a uniform interpretation and application of firearms laws. The administrative appeals process avoids the more costly process of filing an appeal with the court system for the state, law enforcement and the appellant.

 

The goal of the Board is to continue to improve services to the public by insuring easy access to the appeals procedure, a fair and impartial hearing, accurate and complete information regarding firearms laws and a limited backlog or waiting period from the time of the appeal to the scheduled hearing.

 

 

Statutory Responsibility

     The statutory responsibility of the Board is to administer and enforce the provisions of Section 29-32b, Connecticut General Statutes.  Under that section, the Board has the responsibility of making inquires and investigations, taking testimony and rendering decisions, in connection with appeals brought to the Board, by persons aggrieved by the action or inaction of the issuing authority, in matters pertaining to Connecticut General Statutes Sec. 29-28 or 29-28a, pistol permits; Sec. 29-36f or 29-36g eligibility certificates.

 

Public Service

     The Board consists of seven volunteer members with one full-time staff member.  Administrative functions and programs are reviewed for cost effectiveness. Periodic communication with other agencies has resulted in the reduction of duplication of efforts. 

 

Board Accomplishments

The Board has operated within the allotted budget, including the Governor’s Mitigation Reductions, and returned an additional 2% of its budget to the treasury because of good management.

 

A Declaratory Ruling was issued defining the permit application process and a definition of “suitable behavior” in accordance with Connecticut law. The ruling was sent to the Governor, Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, Connecticut Police Chiefs, First Selectmen, Town Managers and Resident Troopers and is available to the public on the Board’s website www.ct.gov/bfpe.

 

Board members adopted and published the document Board Practice and Policies which is also available on the Board website.

 

The seven volunteer Board members agreed to meet five additional times in 2009, for a total of 17 meetings, to reduce the backlog or the wait time for an administrative hearing. As a result this has reduced the backlog from 18 months to 13 months. Board members also agreed to meet two times a month for a total of 24 meetings per year, further reducing the backlog. As of October 2010 the backlog is 12 months.

 

 

 

Information Reported as Required by State Statute

     The Board operates, and will continue to operate in conformance with Sec. 46a to 46a-78, inclusive of the General Statutes of Connecticut.

 

 

Membership 

Seven Board members appointed by the Governor are: Arthur C. Carr, Attorney Joseph T. Corradino, Attorney James J. Finnerty, III, Chief T. William Knapp, (Ret.), M. Peter Kuck, Colonel Kyle E. Overturf and Kenneth V. Tramadeo.