HB-5818, a bill being considered by Connecticut lawmakers, would make it a crime for anyone to fail to report the loss or theft of a firearm within 72 hours from when you “knew or should have known” of the theft within 72 hours.

The language of HB-5818 could subject gunowners to criminal investigation and risk of prosecution even if they report the theft, since a court would be given the ability to decide whether the firearm was stored in such a manner that provided “substantial and unjustifiable risk” that it would be stolen. If the police recover the firearm before the gunowner has discovered it missing and makes the report, it will be considered automatic evidence of violation of this proposed law, as well as an illegal transfer, which is a felony.