Middletown--Michael Polito, left, of New Fairfield appears before the Board of Firearms Permit Examiners with his attorney, Ralph Sherman (2nd from left). Testifying for the town of New Fairfield is first selectman John Hodge (3rd from left). Polito was appealing a pistol permit denial from his town. Photo-Peter Casolino 1/24/13

By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Investigations Editor
Police pushing to get rid of the state Board of Firearms Permit Examiners say it too often overturns their careful decisions on whether someone should be allowed to have a pistol permit and carry a gun.
When considering appeals, the board has overturned permit denials and revocations in slightly more than half the cases in the past two years.

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Portrait: A Connecticut State Pistol and Revolver Permit holder, Brendan Kruse of New Haven, who was able to fend off three muggers in New Haven in 2011 while using his pistol that he was carrying concealed. January 18, 2013. Photo by Peter Hvizdak / New Haven Register

By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Investigations Editor
If you live in a small town in Connecticut, you are more likely to have a pistol permit than a city dweller.
While Bridgeport has the highest number of permit holders, several small, rural towns top the list with the highest percentage of their population having a pistol permit.
About 170,000 people in Connecticut have them, and the number of individuals seeking them has increased in recent years.
Attorney Ralph Sherman of New Britain, who has had a pistol permit for about 25 years, said he originally got his because he knew people who had awakened to discover a burglar in their home.
“I wondered what I would do in that situation,” Sherman said. “I don’t feel that calling 911 and waiting for help is adequate.”

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