HARTFORD -- Gov. Dannel Malloy announced his intentions to issue an executive order barring anyone who's on a federal terror watch list from purchasing a gun in Connecticut.
"If you cannot fly due to being on a watch list, you shouldn't be able to purchase a firearm." said Malloy.
Malloy said the he would sign an executive order to accomplish that task. He compared the action the legislation passed in the wake of the shootings at in Newtown in 2012.
"Like all Americans, I've been horrified by the terrorist acts in California and Paris, this should be a wake up call for all of us. This is a moment to seize in America and I'm here to say we are seizing it in Connecticut," said Malloy.
The order would add an additional step to the process of obtaining a gun permit, which is the first step to getting a firearm. The background check would now include checking against federal government's list.
He said since Congress was not going to act to close the loophole, the state would take action.
Malloy said between 2004-2014, the data shows that people on watch lists tried to buy guns and explosives 2,233 times and succeeded more than 90% of the time.
The Connecticut Citizens Defense League reacted to the Governor's intentions saying it would be an infringement on Second Amendment rights.
"Governor Malloy has gone even further into the deep end than ever before," said Scott Wilson, President of the CCDL. "His planning on denying purchases and likely seizing firearms of individuals are on a list that have not been charged or convicted of any wrongdoing is antithetical to every value that this country was founded on. There are millions of people on these lists, many who are not criminals or terrorists, and do not belong on it."
The CCDL is threatening legal action to try and stop the Governor's move.
