Lawmakers in the "Constitution State" were able to narrowly muscle through an arbitrary prohibition of popular semi-auto pistols through the state House. 

The ambiguous ban, House Bill 5043, outlaws the future manufacture, sale, and importation into the state of "convertible pistols" defined as "any semiautomatic pistol with a cruciform trigger bar" that could potentially be adapted to fire full auto through the use of a switch or insert. The cruciform trigger bar is a hallmark of Glock's design and is emulated by similar pistols marketed by Shadow Systems and others.

The measure passed the House last week and is now headed to the Democrat-controlled Senate for further review. However, gun rights groups noted the proposal wasn't a slam dunk. 

"The vote landed at 86-64 with 15 Democrats joining the Republicans in opposition," observed the NRA-ILA. "Their break from caucus underscores the very real problems and consequences of the bill." 

With Dems holding just 25 of the 36 seats in the state Senate, they would need to keep fewer than seven of their members from defecting on HB 5043 to send it to the desk of Gov. Ned Lamont (D). Should it become law in its current format, those found in violation could face a Class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and fines up to $5,000.

It is backed by national anti-gun groups such as Everytown. 

The measure is similar to one passed in California last year that caught an immediate federal lawsuit from pro-gun groups. Another such ban is being weighed in Maryland.

Banner image: Glock 47 9mm, which could soon become an endangered species in Connecticut. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)