Ron Berler is a 1967 Staples High School graduate, and noted magazine and newspaper writer on a variety of subjects, from education to baseball. Today, he turns his focus on guns.
Ron says:
How fearful are Westporters?
In 2001, the town’s police department issued a total of 26 gun permits. That number jumped to 181 in 2021.
According to the Connecticut State Police, as of April 2021 there were 5,212 registered firearms in town – 2,877 handguns and 2,079 long guns, a category that includes assault-style weapons.
That’s a lot more firepower than the Minutemen who faced down the British at Compo Beach had. And those fellows had an actual need.
Ron Berler
I grew up in Westport. Walking the quiet streets, even the unlighted ones, even at night, I can’t recall a single instance of fear – other than the time I egged a car on Halloween night and the driver chased me through woods that, thankfully, I knew better than he.
Now I live in Stamford. I walk the streets of my suburban neighborhood nightly, armed with a flashlight, doggie bag and miniature poodle while keeping my eyes peeled – for the hawk and the occasional coyote that have claimed as their turf what I had imagined to be mine.
I don’t own a gun. Never have, never will. Yet I don’t pretend that Westport, or the US, will ever be a gun-free zone. Or that it even should be.
I do believe in a nuanced approach to firearms possession.
Shortly after the Uvalde massacre, I wrote an op-ed about nuance and gun reform. It ran in the Houston Chronicle. I wanted it in a Texas paper for a reason. Here it is. (The Chronicle has a paywall, so I’ve posted it on Medium.com.)
I hope it resonates with you.
The type of weapon the 2nd Amendment had in mind, for a well regulated militia.
After reading his article the first thing I want to say is Ted Cruz is a moron and has proved time and time again he has no solution to the prevent these tragedies .I have been a registered gun owner for over 50 years. Never had any desire to own a Ar or any large clip weapon. The people who want these types of weapons are a breed of bullies in my opinion. For gods sake this type of weapon can be bought at Flea Markets in many states like Florida. There is no easy solution to prevent these mentally I’ll people from using these weapons to commit mass killings. There are too many unregistered out there. The states must act! Thorough background checks for handguns and rifles and the complete elimination of companies selling these weapons to the public. The author makes some very valid points. I will say that I will keep my registered guns. I hope that I never have to use them to protect myself or others. And just hope I’m not outgunned.
It would be helpful to know the percentage of the population that owns guns or sought permits. That would be more telling than the raw numbers.
In 2022 the population of the United States is 332,403,650. There are approximately 393 million privately owned firearms. This represents approximately 120 guns for every 100 Americans . . .
Reading this article one can approximate that almost half of the Westport households own guns. I’m assuming one gun per household and that there are no unregistered guns. Both assumptions are most likely wrong but the percentage may not be too far off. This is insane, but not surprising, considering that we are all watching the fabric of our democracy being shredded in front of our very eyes with not much successful opposition to it. We have all seen the act of political violence by armed mob in the heart of our nation with no significant retribution. How can one not wander – should I too want to own a gun for the time when this violence comes knocking?
Yulee, I think your assumption is way off the mark. I am guessing that most gun owners have more than one. Many of them are collectors, I believe.
I’ve been away from Westport for almost 50 years but I think there may be some confusion in this posting between firearms “registrations” and “carry permits.” To my knowledge, required firearm ownership registration is illegal under federal law except for obscure categories such as fully automatic weapons, etc. that involve an ATF license that is very tightly controlled and onerously expensive. There may only be 26 carry permits in Westport, but, trust me, there are probably 100 to 1000 times that number in firearms possessed by townspeople that don’t carry them in public. I bought my first rifle, a Remington .22 as a sixteen year old from the now defunct Sportland in Norwalk in 1968. I had learned to shoot at Camp Mahackeno and Bedford Junior High had a rifle club and a shooting range in the basement. In order to buy my first gun, I was required to complete an NRA firearms safety course. I was then allowed to shoot it on suitable property such as a farm with the owner’s permission. Many times my friends and I would sit on the hills of Nyala Farm and shoot woodchucks because the property owner considered them predators. But to transport our guns to and from these legal venues we had to secure them because even back then, open carry in public spaces was illegal. I personally think that unsecured firearms concealed or otherwise have no place in public spaces but that firearms ownership by people having no criminal record should not be restricted. The state of society has deteriorated to such a point that metal detectors at all public entrances are probably necessary but a locked/unloaded firearm isn’t a threat to anyone. There are many current and former police officers who participate in 06880 and I’d welcome their comments.
Eric, I do not think you are right re: CT not requiring gun permits except to “carry.” According to this site (and per my gun-owning friends) CT still requires a permit merely to own either a handgun or long gun.
https://www.gun-tests.com/news/legal/connecticut-gun-laws-2022-pistol-permit-requirements/
Re the 2021 “Bruen” Supreme Court decision, I believe the Court invalidated NY State’s law that both required applicants to demonstrate a need for gun ownership, and allowed local police departments to reject applicants without having to tell why.
In CT however, anyone who meets the state’s written requirements can obtain the permit, without police being able to reject an applicant arbitrarily, and no demonstrated need to own a gun is required.
I believe if every state had gun laws similar to CT, the country would be a much safer place, and yet law abiding citizens here have far greater rights to gun ownership than practically anyplace else in the world.
Peter, I’ll have to defer to you. I’ve been out of state a long time. Assuming you’re correct, it’s certainly news to me because I always understood the 2nd Amendment to make gun ownership (aka possession) a citizen’s right. Now, of course there are laws to limit what you are allowed to DO with your gun(s) and WHERE you are allowed to do it. It is those limits that exist to ensure our safety. But the 2nd Amendment has a more overarching purpose than the laws that limit gun ownership.
The ATF issues plenty of tax stamps to westport residents that allow them to acquire more restricted firearms and firearm accessories. I have a feeling the author does not even account for that. Its another level of background checks and approvals, on top of CT’s already strict laws.
Not only, Yulee, are there unregistered guns in the hundreds or thousands in town, but, according to law, one does not need a permit for any gun manufactured prior to 1898…take my word for the fact that MANY such firearms are perfectly functional and as deadly as any, yes any, gun of recent manufacture…a functioning six shooter is, for all intents and purposes, a semi-automatic weapon, and there are untold numbers of them in private, unregistered hands…..
The article was excellent. Why is it so easy to own weapons of mass destruction?? I have asked our senators to consider banning pistols that start our school track competition. It’s my opinion we should have a better symbol at school that can easily replace a gun.
Thank you! as a former Westport resident and Staples grad who now lives near Houston, Texas I am so pleased to read this post.
Guns are a huge problem and I do not understand the reluctance to have the same sort of regulations we have for driving a car, operating a vehicles, applying for a job, flying, and on it goes. There are times when I am reluctant to say I live in Texas! Senator Cruz is an embarrassment and that is stating it politely.
I agree with you about Ted Cruz but in the interest of balance would add Beto O’Rourke to the list of political opportunists that just happen to be Texans. One can only long for the likes of Barbara Jordan and Ann Richards!!!
Ron, I’m not sure a recent rise in Westport gun permits is significant. There’s been an influx of new residents from out-of-state since the pandemic and some of these brought in guns requiring new CT permits.
I’m in agreement with your op-ed, but you’re preaching to the converted here. How do you suggest convincing a Greg Abbott voter to support tighter gun laws?
I have a couple of suggestions: 1) combine sensible gun laws with measures to keep violent criminals and mentally ill people off the streets. 2) refrain from using the euphemism “gun violence” for the gang-related shootings that are terrorizing many communities. It’s crime, plain and simple, and we should come off as anti-crime, not anti gun.
Hi Peter. As I wrote, I placed this with the Houston Chronicle for a reason. The day it ran there, I emailed copies to the press secretaries of the following: Texas Gov. Abbott, the Texas AG, both Texas U.S. senators, all Texas U.S. Republican congresspeople and all Texas state Republican legislators. We do what we can.
THANK YOU! Caps to illustrate how important this issue is. Unfortunately, most in Texas will not pay attention I am afraid.
It also appears that there’s an unhealthy obsession with guns among many teenage males, and that a 21 age limit for gun purchase – same as for alcohol and tobacco – would save many lives. I also suggest a graduated system in which ARs and handguns capable of holding large capacity clips are only available to those with a 5+ year record of responsible gun ownership.
Your article reminded me of something I did a number of years ago in response to Sandy Hook and the upcoming vote (at the time) to renew the assault weapons ban – https://youtu.be/LORVfnFtcH0
Great video. Sort of funny, too, once you get over the horror of the beginning.
As a civilized society, we long ago have made a collective decision to severely restrict and limit access to certain types of weapons, i.e., machine guns, from circulation in our populace. No one seems to be clamoring for their return. In 1994, we made a collective decision to ban “assault weapons” and to limit “clips” to a capacity of 10 bullets for ten years and guess what, incidents involving the use of those weapons declined. Unfortunately, the ban included a poison pen “sunset provision” and lo and behold, those weapons and high capacity magazines flooded the country once the ban expired. Thanks Congress.
I wonder why you suggest a graduated system of access to such weapons and large capacity magazines instead of reinstating the ban that was previously the law of the land? Is there a shortage of weapons? Can we at least restrict THOSE weapons as we did with machine guns which non one seems to be missing very much? Aren’t imperfect solutions that save some lives a better choice than throwing our hands up in despair? Let’s not let the perfect become the enemy of the good. Again.
CT does happen to outlaw both ARs and any magazine for a semi-automatic — pistol or rifle — with more than 10 rounds, but magazines are low-tech, easy to manufacture items that are difficult to control.
In fact, a common pistol like a Glock 9mm can accommodate aftermarket clips up to 50 rounds. To eliminate the threat of rapid fire mass shootings you’d have to outlaw all handguns except the [usually 6 or 7 shot] revolver.
Interesting fact: “Pistols grew from 28% of handgun production in 1973 to 46% by 1985 and to 80% by 1993. This trend is also apparent in criminal weaponry, as pistols have overtaken revolvers as the predominant type of handgun used in crime.”
https://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/9/2/151
This is a likely reason that, while overall murders are still lower today than in the 70’s – 80’s, the number of mass shooting events is higher.
I’ll bet that as a result of CT’s legislation, there are fewer events featuring these weapons. Isn’t fewer better than more? And just because the laws are imperfect and some folks seek to circumvent the existing laws or to expolit legislative or technical loopholes isn’t a good enough reason not to try and make things better. We’re not going to stop crime. That’s hardwired and we’re not going to stop the use of the millions of weapons that have flooded the country, but we can make it harder for 18 year old pyscopaths to purchase them (while recognizing that they often use their firearms stored “safely”in their own homes (thanks dad) and we can control the type of weapons that are legally available. Seat belts and airbags don’t save all lives but they do save alot of lives. Should those no longer be required too?
Russell, when you say we “should” ban ARs, the real question is “will” voters in states that are a lot more conservative, Republican and rural than CT go for it?
Personally, I believe keeping guns out of the wrong hands is an easier sell, but I recognize that’s easier said than done because so many hard-liners are acting emotionally, not rationally.
As far as not being able to stop crime because it’s “hardwired,” this theory is new to me!
Insofar as the ability of a good criminal justice system to stop crime, you are aware that NYC was able to cut murders from a record 2,262 in 1990 to +- 500 today, right?
And that despite the challenge of the pandemic, NYC has held murders at this comparatively low rate, while other cities with dysfunctional criminal justice systems — e.g. Chicago, Philly, St. Louis, Minneapolis — have seen murders shoot back up to record or near record levels.
Hi Peter. We had a federal ban in place from 1994-2004. Whether or not folks everywhere “went for it” is really besides the point, after all, you can’t please all the people all the time. And the ban was effective for the time it was the law of the land. Regarding my “hard wired” comment, perhaps that was too strong, but I don’t think anyone could dispute human beings capacity for and record of, violence and crime as long as there haven been human beings.
Listen all I’m advocating for is making it harder for murderous psychopaths to easily obtain the kind of weapons that allow them to rip to shreds dozens of people in minutes if not seconds. I don’t expect a flawless outcome, just a better one. If we’re not going to ban these weapons, can we at least raise the age for legal purchase to 21 and require a modest waiting period? Lets make the system “well regulated”, just like the 2nd amendment states.
Thank you Ron for this important information. And, for sharing the photo of the type of weapon that could be owned.
There is no such thing as “registered guns” in Westport (unless you own a machine gun). When a gun is sold to a resident a form is sent to the state police and Westport Police.
Yes, I have only been saying the same thing for over 40 years…. 2nd amend rights folk who prefer to interpret the document literally, must then place the document in its historical time frame, a single shot flintlock rifle is all they should be allowed to possess. PERIOD, no bullshit.
Since the conservatives seem determined to take us back to the 18th century, this would definitely be appropriate.
Didn’t read the article, sorry couldn’t after reading the summary, and lots of misinformation here. But will say this… gun owners generally prove themselves to be some of the most law abiding citizens there are! I read an article that was well cited a few years ago (will see if I can find it) that showed that gun owners committed less crimes than even police officers as a whole. Eye opening. That said, laws and regulations keep coming out that attempt to infringe upon law abiding citizens rights. Why? Because its easier for lawmakers to target law abiding citizens then it is for them to roll up their sleeves and actually tackle crime or go after criminals. I will also say Westport has many residents that own multiple homes and have permits from multiple states. There are likely even more guns in Westport than mentioned because of that not too mention not all guns have to be registered (someone moves to westport, you think they have to go and register their guns? no lol). Think about your neighbor that lives in Florida “most” of the year and takes their guns with them to CT. Also someone said that half of Westporters own guns? I doubt that but a good number do. Many gun owners have far more than one… There was a stabbing in westport… should knives be banned? All that said, CT has some of the stricter gun laws and requirements. I do believe other relaxed states should meet a baseline standard for gun ownership.
No one is suggesting all guns should be banned, so why would you suggest that is something being advocated for? And I’m sorry to hear there was a stabbing in Westport, but you’re talking about a single occurrance. According to the Washington Post, there have been over 300 massing shootings so far in 2022: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/06/02/mass-shootings-in-2022/. When is enough, enough?
ok lets move past single occurrence. multiple arrests in westport as of late that have involved firearms and out of towners. just one the other day involving cocaine and firearm right in saugatuck. check westport pd facebook. fact is criminals are in town with guns. why can’t law abiding citizens have them to protect their families? otherwise why try to make a point that brings westport households with permits/guns into the picture at all when westporters seem to be model gun owners? sounds counterproductive.
For the life of me I just do not understand the obsession with guns in this country. It is no longer 1787, (the year the Constitution was written and ratified) nobody is forced to hunt for their dinner, it’s 2022, a call to 911 will have help on your doorstep in minutes. Why does anyone feel they need a gun? (OK, except for sport hunting) Violence is way too glorified on TV and in movies and yet …diplomacy is a word that appears to have slipped from our vocabulary. There are more guns in this country than people, that’s a fact. How can any intelligent person ever think this gun ownership perversion will have a happy ending?
A call to 911 … So when someone has already broken in and can harm your family you think police response can be anywhere in town in minutes with enough officers present to enter and tackle the situation? Doubtful. In many places 911 response times are even longer and officers will not enter without plenty of backup and tactical gear.
Joshua… Where do you live? Because it’s clearly not Westport with quotes like “all the criminals running around” and also… exactly how many break-ins have you had by said criminals that were going to harm your family before 911 response arrived, only to be thwarted by your trusty AR-15, which is, of course, the only weapon that could stop all of these Westport criminals, right?
sorry i have to say one more thing… given westport residents aren’t shooting their guns off in public nor ending up on the news or in jail (and there are plenty of guns in westport), perhaps that proves the point that CT is a model state for law abiding citizens to own and carry guns? perhaps leave the law abiding alone, shift the focus to all the criminals running around that are prohibited persons that can’t legally touch a gun, but are going out and committing nearly all of the gun-related crimes?
also, i can’t help but remember a fundraiser that was all over town for a multi-offense violent FELON who had plenty of gun charges, re-offended with MORE gun charges and serious felonies, yet certain individuals in town rallied behind this felon, which was a disgrace. felons have to pay for their jail time, so i hope tall that money was taken from the people that donated, and given to the state to pay the bill so the taxpayers weren’t as burdened.
make up your mind westport!
But plenty of mentally disturbed individuals without any criminal record are able to walk into gun stores all across the country and walk out in 30 minutes, fully armed, with weapons of war, just as long as they’re 18 years old. Is that okay with you?
weapons of war? oh please. but as i said in my other point, other states should catch up and improve their requirements. CT is one of the stronger states. there should be a baseline minimum. however, that does not solve the group of individuals committing most of the crimes involving firearms: prohibited persons/felons.
I suggested a baseline minimum: 21 yearns of age and a waiting period. You didn’t indicate what you meant by “baseline minimum”. What is it? And what, exactly, is “prohibited” person and how would you prevent a person without a criminal record or identifiable mental health disorder from purchasing an assault rifle? I mean, squirrel hunting device. By the way, from 1966 to 2019, 77% of mass murderers purchased their guns legally.
We can control inanimate objects. We cannot control individuals or know which ones are about to blow a 50 amp fuse.
google is your friend: https://www.atf.gov/firearms/identify-prohibited-persons
Hey Joshua. Thank you. That’s a coherent list of nine different criteria that would exclude an individual meeting any one of those criteria from legally purchasing a firearm. I think that’s great and makes sense. But what about those individuals who do NOT meet any of those nine criteria that would exclude them from making such a purchase? As I previously told you, 75% of those who commit mass murders using a firearm have purchased them legally, so either they didn’t meet any of the nine criteria, or, the shop owners are regularly failing to perform their legally required assessments of a potential buyer. Why would a shop owner fail to what the law requires of them and risk their own legal liability or jeopardize their own livelihoods? That, wouldn’t make any sense.
The nine criteria are good as far as they go, they just wouldn’t prevent someone who wasn’t prohibited from buying a firearm and inflicting mayhem on society. I say, you must be 21 and must wait for some period of time before completing a purchase.
Everything’s OK with me. They can pass all the laws they want, no one will obey them and no one will enforce them. Some day I’ll move back to Westport where money talks, nobody walks and everybody squawks.