A federal judge in New Haven this week will hear a case on whether or not Connecticut should let people bring guns into state parks.

 

The lawsuit was filed in January claiming that the current laws banning handguns in state parks for self-defense is unconstitutional.

 

Right now, even with a permit, gun owners can only bring guns or bows inside state parks for hunting, education classes, or on ranges.

 

The current law means there are only certain times of year and certain parts of the parks where guns are allowed and the lawsuit aims to change that.

 

The lawsuit states that self-protection is not even after people have been attacked by bears in some parks, leading to similar calls to allow guns inside state parks in the past.

 

Besides the second amendment, a 2022 Supreme Court case has also been referenced, requiring governments to keep their gun laws and regulations in line with the country's "historical tradition of firearm regulation" - which is obviously up for interpretation.

 

Today's hearing is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. with the judge considering a temporary injunction that would lift the ban, and let people start carrying their handguns into the parks right away.