Insurance Requirement for Gun Owners Dies in Committee

A controversial bill that would require gun owners to obtain personal liability insurance appears to have died in the legislature’s insurance committee.

The committee held a hearing on House Bill 6656 on Tuesday. Supporters such as state Sen. Beth Bye, D-West Hartford, said the owners of firearms should have to do what automobile owners do: obtain insurance.

But the overwhelming majority of speakers testified against the measure, saying it would hurt law-abiding gun owners while doing nothing to stop criminals. Several representatives from the insurance industry also spoke out against the proposal.

The insurance committee’s deadline for approving bills was Thursday and the committee did not meet. But even though the bill failed to make it out of committee, there’s always a small chance it could be resurected later in the session.