The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) opened investigations Thursday, Oct. 22, into firearm-permit practices in Middletown and Waterbury, Connecticut, examining whether local police delayed or denied applications in ways that violate federal rights.
The notice letters cite the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which bars state and local governments from engaging in a recurring pattern of police conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon wrote in both letters, “We have not reached any conclusions.”
DOJ may request records and interview municipal officials, police employees and people who applied for permits. The letters say investigators will examine the two departments’ permitting practices, including possible delays and denials.
Connecticut residents must obtain a local pistol permit before applying for a state permit; nonresidents may apply directly to state police. The state Board of Firearms Permit Examiners reviews appeals involving permits that were denied, revoked or delayed.
A state audit’s March 13, 2024, snapshot showed 1,203 permit appeals still awaiting hearings statewide, with scheduled hearing dates reaching March 2026. The total included 590 denials and 613 revocations. The board scheduled 28 hearings per meeting and heard an average of 12 cases. The audit said the board received more appeals each year than it could reasonably review; late notice that cases had been resolved could also leave too little time to fill hearing slots. It said the backlog had appeared in eight earlier audit reports covering fiscal years 2001 through 2021. These statewide findings do not establish current waits or practices in either city.
DOJ also cited the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, which invalidated New York’s special-need requirement for public-carry licenses. The opinion left open challenges to licensing systems where lengthy processing or high fees could make public carry impractical.
The letters ask each municipality to designate a contact within five business days after receiving its letter. DOJ says it will discuss next steps with the cities and notify them when the investigations are complete; it gave no public timetable for findings.
