Groton Ranks 143rd of 169 Muncipalities In Percentage of Residents With Pistol Permits

Groton ranks near the bottom of the state - 143rd out of 169 Connecticut municipalities - in the percentage of residents with a pistol permit, according to state police data complied by The New Haven Register.

The state data shows 1,542 people in Groton have pistol permits, or 3.8 percent of the population, according to the database. By comparison, Norwich reported the same rate, and New London reported a lower rate of 2 percent.

Other nearby communities reported higher rates: 6.5 percent in Waterford and 5.8 percent in Ledyard.

Canaan was number one on the state list, with 167 permits issued, or 13.5 percent of residents having a permit, the Register reported. Hartford was at the bottom, with 1,912 permits, or 1.5 percent of the population.

Groton Police Lt. John Varone said the town schedules about 20 appointments per month for people seeking pistol permits, and they have been continuously filled the past year.

He said he didn’t know why Groton would be at the lower end in the percentage of individuals with pistol permits.

“I’m surprised that we are.  I would have thought that we’d be a little bit higher on it,” he said. During the 2011 fiscal year, town police processed 88 pistol permits, and expected to handle 73 during the 2012 fiscal year.

Pistol permit applications for the current fiscal year were anticipated to be 84.

"I can tell you we are well past our projections for this year," Varone said.

To obtain a pistol permit, you must download the application from the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or pick one at the local police station, fill it out and return it with proper documentation. Applicants must then schedule an appointment to be fingerprinted, photographed and interviewed.