Attorney Alfred P. Bruno successfully argued the overturn of the State of Connecticut Board of Firearms Permit Examiners’ (BFPE) decision to grant a pistol permit in Police Department, Town of Stratford, Connecticut v. Board of Firearms Permit Examiners, et al. The permit was initially denied by the Stratford Police Department due to the applicant’s prior criminal history and possession of a medical marijuana card. In his appeal of BFPE’s decision, Attorney Bruno argued, among other things, that the BFPE’s decision directly conflicted with federal law prohibiting any person who uses or is addicted to marijuana from owning, possessing, or buying a firearm or ammunition. In overturning the BFPE’s decision and finding that the BFPE decision was erroneous, the Court (Cordani, J.) agreed with Attorney Bruno that the applicant’s history of violence and admission that he has a medical marijuana card/uses marijuana on a daily basis rendered him unsuitable, as contemplated by statute.
The decision will hopefully shine a light on the conflict between Connecticut’s medical marijuana law and federal narcotics law.
