Rep. Dubitsky Honored as CCDL Legislator of the Year

HARTFORD – The Connecticut Citizens Defense League (CCDL) has honored State Representative Doug Dubitsky (R-47) with the Legislator of the Year Award in appreciation of his tireless work on behalf of Connecticut’s sportsmen and legal gun owners.

As a member of the legislature’s Judiciary Committee, Rep. Dubitsky questioned multiple witnesses during the 13-hour hearing on a bill that would have stripped citizens of their right to defend themselves against a violent attack without a hearing, in violation of their constitutional right to due process, on nothing more than an unsubstantiated accusation. Under the bill, law abiding firearm owners would have been compelled to surrender all firearms and permits without any investigation or hearing. Even if a post-seizure hearing found they had done nothing wrong, they would still face a two and a half year delay in regaining their permit and firearms.

Rep. Dubitsky was also responsible for identifying obscure language within the governor’s “Second Chance Society” bill that would have surreptitiously added new minor offenses to the list of crimes which would make a person forever ineligible to possess a firearm. After many hours of heated debate with the governor’s legal staff, the bill was later passed in special session with his recommended corrective language.

“The people of this state have been endowed with inalienable Constitutional rights because those civil rights protect everyone’s freedom and safety,” Rep. Dubitsky said. “When the government tries to strip people of their rights to defend themselves, to the due process of law, to be free from warrantless search and seizures, and enjoy equal protection under the law, those of us entrusted to represent the people must do what we can to prevent it. I am proud of the work that I did this session to protect the civil rights of the people of this state and to protect domestic violence victims from being further victimized by misguided legislation. I thank the CCDL for recognizing my efforts.”

Rep. Dubitsky received the CCDL Legislator of the Year Award on August 11, 2015.

For video of his acceptance speech, please click on the image below.