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Justice Department investigating gun permitting in CT towns over alleged delays
The Civil Rights Division said a 2025 state audit found a 1,203-case backlog that left applicants waiting months for hearings.
The United States Justice Department Civil Rights Division announced Thursday it is investigating the Middletown and Waterbury Police Departments to determine whether they "unnecessarily delay the issuance of firearm permits to their residents."
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated the DOJ is exploring "possible violations" of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which prohibits police practices that deprive individuals of rights protected by the Constitution.
The Supreme Court warned in Bruen against "lengthy wait times in processing license applications," while a 2025 state audit found a backlog of 1,203 cases involving firearm permit appeals.
Democratic Mayor Paul Pernerewski and Middletown Police Chief Erik Costa pledged full cooperation with the federal investigation, while Connecticut Attorney General William Tong deferred comment to local officials.
The investigation emerges as the Trump administration shifts the DOJ Civil Rights Division's focus toward Second Amendment protections, moving away from its historical work on voting rights and police misconduct.