BASIC CONNECTICUT FIREARMS QUESTIONS (2023)

This report provides answers to basic questions about firearms and firearm regulation in Connecticut. We have tried to make the answers as simple and direct as possible, deliberately excluding details that would require longer and more complex answers. For example, almost all bans contain exemptions for law enforcement officials. Also, most of the provisions do not apply to antique firearms.

FIREARMS: DEFINITIONS

1. How does the state classify firearms for regulatory purposes?

For regulatory purposes, state law designates four types of firearms: pistols (pistols and revolvers), long weapons (rifles and shotguns), assault weapons, and machine guns. The degree of regulation depends on the type of firearm and, for sales and transfers, whether the transactions are conducted by federally licensed gun dealers or private sellers who do not require a license.

2. What are guns?

Pistols and revolvers are generally referred to as pistols. State law defines a “pistol” or “revolver” as anyfirearm with a barrel less than 12" long (SGC §29-27&53a-3(18)).

3. What are rifles and shotguns?

State law defines a “rifle” as a weapon designed to be fired from the shoulder using a cartridge to fire a single projectile through a rifled barrel each time the trigger is pulled. Defines a “shotgun” as a weapon designed to be fired from the shoulder using a shotgun shell to fire through a smooth barrel, a series of ball shots, or a single projectile for each trigger (CGS §). Rifles and shotguns are known as long guns.

4. What are assault weapons?

State law defines an “assault weapon” ass (1) any selective fire weapon capable of fully automatic, semi-automatic, or burst fire at the user'option s; (2) any of a list of named firearms; (3) any unlisted semi-automatic rifle, pistol or shotgun having certain specific characteristics; or (4) a part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert a firearm to an assault weapon (SGC §53-202a).

For more information, see OLR Report2013-R-0001and Annex 1.

5. What is a machine gun?

State law defines a "machine gun" as (1) a weapon that fires automatically, or can be readily reset to fire, more than one projectile at the pull of the trigger without manually reloading, or (2) a part or combination of parts designed to convert a pistol into a machine gun (CGS §53-202).

CONNECTICUT GUN CREDENTIALS

1. What is a weapons permit?

This is a required card to carry a firearm in Connecticut. Allows gun owners to carry guns anywhere in the state, except where prohibited (1) by law or (2) by an owner or someone in control of the property. The owner of a weapon must carry the license with him when he carries weapons outside his home or business (CGS §§29-28&29-35).

2. What are the eligibility criteria to obtain a firearms license?

An applicant must pass a state-approved course in firearms safety and use, pass state and national criminal background checks, and meet other criteria specified in law (see Exhibit 2). In addition, the local licensing official must determine that the applicant is a fit person to hold a firearms license and wants the firearm for legal purposes (CGS §29-28).

3. Who is considered an “appropriate” person for authorization purposes?

The law is silent on the matter. Determination of suitability is left to the local licensing official.'s discretion.

For more information, see OLR Report2008-R-0238.

4.who is an arms dealer'permission?

This is a credential that federally licensed gun dealers must obtain from the city in which their business is located as a condition of selling firearms. Anyone who sells more than 10 pistols in any calendar year must also obtain this license.

5. What is a gun eligibility certificate and how is it different from a gun permit?

Anyone buying or acquiring a gun in Connecticut must show one of three credentials. One is a certificate of eligibility; the others are a license to port and a distributor'permit A certificate of eligibility authorizes someone to purchase firearms but (with very limited exceptions) not to take them outside of their home or business. A firearms license is required to carry handguns (CGS §§29-33&29-36g).

6. What are the criteria to obtain a certificate of eligibility?

As with a firearms license, the applicant must pass a state-approved course in firearms safety and use, pass state and national criminal background checks, and meet other criteria specified by law. But unlike in the case of a firearms license, there is no requirement that the officer determine that an applicant is fit or willing to obtain firearms for lawful purposes (CGS §29-36g).

7. What is a certificate of ownership?

State law has generally prohibited possession of assault weapons since 1993. The law banning weapons contains some exceptions that allow, for example, certain people who legally owned assault weapons prior to the ban to obtain a certificate of ownership in order to continue keeping them under control. specified circumstances.

For more information, see OLR Report2013-R-0001.

FIREARMS CREDENTIALS: PROCESS

1. Who issues the weapons permit and the certificate of eligibility to carry a weapon?

There is a two-step process for gun licenses. The local official (police chief, ward director, or first councilor) screens the applicants and issues a temporary state license, after which the State Police conducts state and national criminal history checks on the applicants and issues the state license. five years (CGS § §29-28,29-28a, &29-29).

The State Police issues the certificate of eligibility (CGS §§29-36f&29-36g).

2. Are the same checks performed on applicants who apply for and renew credentials?

The statutes do not address gun license or certificate of eligibility renewal checks. But according to the State Police, which is in charge of renewing both credentials, the division does the same checks for both credentials. But state police are not required to determine whether applicants are fit or want the guns for legal purposes, as local authorities are required to do with original gun license applicants.

3. What remedy is available to an applicant who is denied a license or certificate or whose credential is revoked?

The applicant may appeal to the Board of Examiners of Firearms Permits (CGS §29-32b).

FIREARMS DATA

1 . How many assault weapons are registered in Connecticut?

As of December 17, 2012, there are 8,825 registered assault weapons in Connecticut, according to the State Police.

2. How many machine guns are registered in Connecticut?

On December 17, 2012, there were 2,304, according to the State Police.

3. How many people in Connecticut carry a gun?

As of December 17, 2012, there were 179,092 valid permits in the state.

4. How many people in Connecticut have certificates of eligibility?

As of January 13, 2013, there are 57 valid driver's certificates.

5. How many gun licenses and eligibility certificates were denied and revoked in 2011 and 2012?

According to data from the State Police, in 2011, 23 weapons licenses were denied and 1,252 revoked. In 2012, 25 authorizations were denied and 1,296 revoked. No certificate of eligibility was denied or revoked in any of the years.

HIGH CAPACITY AMMUNITION DEVICES

1. What is a high capacity ammunition device?

State law does not define the term. But generally the term is used to refer to magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. (An expired federal law defined them as magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Some states, including Massachusetts, prohibit or restrict use of the 10-round limit, but legal definitions vary.)

2. Does Connecticut restrict or prohibit high capacity ammunition devices?

Connecticut does not regulate high capacity chargers. The Judiciary Committee considered a bill in 2011 to regulate them.SB 1094would have prohibited possession of certain devices by accepting more than 10 rounds. The bill did not come out of commission.

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Annex 1

Say. 53-202a.Assault Weapons: Definition.(a) As used in this section and in sections 53-202b through 53-202k, inclusive, "assault weapon" means:

(1) Any selective firearm capable of full-automatic, semi-automatic, or burst firing, at the user's choice, or any of the following specified semi-automatic firearms: Algimec Agmi; Armalite AR-180; Australian Automatic Arms SAP Pistol; Thompson type automatic artillery; Avtomat Kalashnikov AK-47 type; Barrett Light-Fifty Model 82A1; Beretta AR-70; Bushmaster automatic rifle and automatic pistol; Calico models M-900, M-950 and 100-P; Singapore Licensed Industries SR-88; Colt AR-15 and Sporter; Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max-1 and Max-2; Encom MK-IV, MP-9 and MP-45; National Manufacture FN/FAL, FN/LAR or FN/FNC; FAMES MORE 223; AT-9 and Mini-AT pen; Federales XC-900 and XC-450; Franchi SPAS-12 and LEI-12; Galil AR and ARM; Goncz high-tech carbine and high-tech long pistol; Heckler & Koch HK-91, HK-93, HK-94, and SP-89; Holmes MP-83; MAC-10, MAC-11 and MAC-11 type carbine; Intratec TEC-9 and Scorpion; Iver Johnson Enforcer model 3000; Ruger Mini-14/5F folding model only; Skorpion beetle; SIG 57 AMT and 500 series; Specter automatic rifle and automatic pistol; Springfield Armory BM59, SAR-48 and G-3; Sterling MK-6 and MK-7; Steyr DOES; Street Sweeper and Striker 12 rotary barrel shotguns; USAS-12; Carbine, Mini-Carbine and UZI Pistol; Weaver Weapons Nighthawk; Wilkinson "Pretty" pistol;

(2) A part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert a firearm into an assault weapon, as defined in subdivision (1) of this subsection, or any combination of parts of which an assault weapon, as defined in subdivision (1) of this subsection, can be quickly assembled if said parts are in the possession or control of the same person;

(3) Any semi-automatic firearm not included in subdivision (1) of this subsection that meets the following criteria:

(A) A semi-automatic rifle that is capable of accepting a detachable magazine and has at least two of the following:

(i) Collapsible or telescopic material;

(ii) A pistol grip that visibly protrudes under the action of the weapon;

(iii) A bayonet mount;

(iv) A flash arrestor or threaded tube designed to accommodate a flash arrestor; Is

(v) grenade launcher; either

(B) A semi-automatic pistol that is capable of accepting a detachable magazine and has at least two of the following:

(i) A magazine of ammunition that connects to the pistol outside of the pistol grip;

(ii) A threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, foregrip, or silencer;

(iii) A cover that is attached to the barrel, or that partially or totally surrounds the barrel, and that allows the shooter to hold the firearm with the non-firing hand without being burned;

(iv) A manufactured weight of fifty ounces or more when the pistol is unloaded; Is

(v) A semi-automatic version of an automatic firearm; either

(C) A semi-automatic shotgun having at least two of the following:

(i) Collapsible or telescopic material;

(ii) A pistol grip that visibly protrudes under the action of the weapon;

(iii) Fixed magazine with a capacity of more than five rounds; Is

(iv) Ability to accept a detachable magazine; either

(4) A part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert a firearm into an assault weapon, as defined in subdivision (3) of this subsection, or any combination of parts of which an assault weapon, as defined in subdivision (3) of this subsection, can be quickly assembled if these parts are in the possession or control of the same person.

(b) As used in this section and in sections 53-202b through 53-202k, inclusive, the term "assault weapon" does not include any firearm modified to render it permanently inoperable.

(P.A. 93-306, S. 1; P. A. 01-130, S. 1.)

Story: P.A. 01-130 as amended Subsec. (a) remove reference to Sec. 53a-46a(h), make technical changes to Subdiv. (2) and add Subdivs. (3) and (4) on the criteria of the physical characteristics applicable to the definition of "assault weapon" and subsec. (b) delete the reference to Sec. 53a-46a(h).

quoted. 234 C. 455. Quoted. 242 C. 143.

The conviction of the accused under the terms of art. 53-202c did not violate your due process rights because, by law, a Maadi MISR is an "assault weapon" as defined in s. Defendant's due process rights were not violated by the trial court's inconclusive section of vagueness when applied to the circumstances of his case. 93 BC 129.

Annex 2

Mon. 29-28. License for retail sale of pistols or revolvers. Permission to carry a pistol or revolver. Confidentiality of the name and address of the licensee. Permits for out-of-state residents.(a) No person who sells ten or more handguns or revolvers in a calendar year or who is a federally licensed firearms dealer may advertise, sell, deliver, or offer or exhibit for sale or delivery, or have in possession of such person with the intent to sell or retail any handgun or revolver without having a license to do so issued under this subsection. The chief of police or, failing that, the neighborhood guard or the first councilor, as the case may be, may, at the request of any person, issue a permit in the form prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Safety for retail sales. of pistols and revolvers within the jurisdiction of the authority issuing said license. No permit for retail sale of any handgun or revolver will be issued unless the applicant has a valid certificate of eligibility for a handgun or revolver issued pursuant to section 29-36f or a valid state license to carry a handgun or revolver. in accordance with subsection (b) of this section and the applicant submits documentation sufficient to establish that local zoning requirements have been met for the location where the sale is to be made, except that any person who sells or trades a handgun or revolver for improving a personal or hobby collection or selling all or part of his personal collection of pistols or revolvers shall not be required to submit such documentation to the place where the sale or exchange will take place.

(b) At the request of any person having a bona fide residence or place of business within the jurisdiction of said authority, said police chief, constable or council member may issue a temporary state permit for said person to carry a handgun or revolver within the jurisdiction of said authority. state, provided that such authority verifies that such applicant does not intend to use any pistol or revolver that such applicant may carry under such license other than for lawful use and that such person is a fit person to receive such license. No state or temporary permit to carry a handgun or revolver shall be issued under this subsection if the applicant (1) has not successfully completed a course approved by the Commissioner of Public Safety in the safety and use of handguns and revolvers , including, but not limited to, a publicly available firearms safety or training course offered by a law enforcement agency, public or private educational institution, or firearms training school, using instructors certified by the National Rifle Association or the Department of Environmental Protection and a firearms or safety course or firearms training conducted by a State or National Rifle Association certified instructor, (2) have been convicted of a felony or violation of subsection (c) of section 21a-279, section 53a-58, 53a-61, 53a-61a, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-96, 53a-175, 53a-176, 53a-178 or 53a-18 1d, (3) were convicted as a delinquent of the commission of a juvenile felony as defined in section 46b-120, (4) were released from prison within the last twenty years after being found not guilty of a offense for mental illness or defect under section 53a-13, (5) has been admitted to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the last twelve months on the order of a probate court, (6) you are subject to a restraining or protective order issued by a court in a case involving the use, attempted, or threatened use of physical force against another person, (7) you are subject to a restraining order seizure of firearms issued pursuant to subsection (d) of section 29-38c after notice and hearing, (8) you are prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing, or receiving a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922(g)(4), (9) is an illegal alien or is illegally in the United States, or (10) are under twenty-one years of age. Nothing in this section shall require any person who possesses a valid license to carry a pistol or revolver on October 1, 1994 to attend any additional training on the safety and use of pistols and revolvers. After issuing a temporary state license to the applicant, the local authority must submit the original application to the commissioner. No later than sixty days after receiving a temporary state license, the applicant must report to the place designated by the commissioner to receive the state license. Said commissioner may then issue, to any holder of any temporary state license, a state license to carry a pistol or revolver within the state. Upon issuance of the state license, the commissioner will make available to the licensee a copy of the law regarding the licensee's responsibility to report the loss or theft of a firearm and the penalties associated with breach of said law. Upon issuance of the state license, the commissioner must send a record of the state license to the local authority that issued the temporary state license. The commissioner must keep records of all applications, whether approved or denied. The copy of the state license issued to the licensee must be laminated and contain a full face photograph of that licensee. A person holding a state license issued pursuant to this subsection must notify the issuing authority within two business days of such person's change of address. The notice will include the old address and the new address of that person.

(c) No issuing authority may require any sworn member of the Department of Public Safety or an organized local police department to provide the residence address of such sworn member in a permit application. The issuing authority shall permit each sworn member holding a license to carry a handgun or revolver issued by such authority to review such sworn member's application to include a business or mailing address in lieu of a residential address. The issuing authority will notify each of these members of the right to review such application.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1-210 and 1-211, the name and address of a person licensed to retail pistols and revolvers pursuant to subsection (a) of this section or a state or temporary license to carry firearms or pistols pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, or a local license to carry firearms and firearms issued by local authorities before October 1, 2001, shall be confidential and not disclosed, except (1) such information may be disclosed to law enforcement officials acting in the performance of their duties, (2) the issuing authority may disclose such information to the extent necessary to comply with a request made under section 29-33 to verify that such status or temporary status the license is still valid and has not been suspended or revoked, and the local authority may disclose such information in the measure necessary to comply with a request made under section 29-33 to verify that a local license is still valid and has not been suspended or revoked, and (3) such information may be disclosed to the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services for comply with the provisions of subsection (c) of section 17a-500.

(e) The issuance of any license to carry a pistol or revolver does not authorize the possession or carrying of a pistol or revolver in any location where possession or carrying of a pistol or revolver is prohibited by law or is prohibited by the person who owns it or exercise control over such facilities.

(f) Any bona fide resident of the United States who does not have a bona fide residence or place of business within the jurisdiction of any local state authority, but who has a permit or license to carry a handgun issued by the authority of another state or subdivision of the United States, you may apply directly to the Commissioner of Public Safety for permission to carry a handgun or revolver in that state. All provisions of subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e) of this section shall apply to license applications received by the commissioner under this subsection.

(1949 Rev., S. 4158, 4159; 1959, P.A. 615, S. 19; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 90-155, S. 1; P.A. 92-130, S. 4, 10 , PA 93-172, S. 1, Julho Sp. Sess. , PA 05-283, S. 4; PA 07-163, S. 2.)

History: 1959 Act with typo corrected; PA 77-614 replaced the commissioner of state police with the commissioner of public safety, effective January 1, 1979; PA 90-155 added a provision regarding compliance with local zoning requirements; PA 92-130 divided the section into two Subsections, inserting new language as a Subsection. (b) prohibit the issuing authority from requiring officers to provide their addresses on license applications and require the issuing authority to allow officers licensed to carry a handgun on May 26, 1992 to review such requests to include business or mailing address instead of home address; PA 93-172 as amended Subsec. (a) require that the copy of the state license issued to the licensee be laminated and contain a full face photograph of the licensee; Jul Sp. PA Session 94-1 Amended subsection (a) requires any person "who sells ten or more handguns or handguns in a calendar year or is a federally licensed firearms dealer" to obtain a license for retail sale of pistols and pistols and prohibit the issuance of such a permit unless the applicant has a valid certificate of eligibility or valid carry permit, designated Subsec. (b) the existing provisions on the application and issuance of a license to carry and amend said Subsec. replace the provision prohibiting the issuance of such a license to an alien with a provision prohibiting the issuance of such a license to any applicant who meets any of the six specified circumstances, add a provision exempting current license holders from additional training, and add a provision requiring a licensee to notify the issuing authority of any change of address, redesignated ex-Subsec. (b) as Subsection (c) and Subsec. (d) confidentiality of the name and address of licensees; PA 98-129 added a new subsection. (b)(3) prohibiting the issuance of a license to an applicant who has been convicted of a juvenile delinquency felony, renumbering the remaining Subdivisions. accordingly, and replacing in Subdiv. (5) "hospital for mental illness" for "hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities," added Subsec. (d)(3) authorize the release of such information to the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to comply with the provisions of Sec. 17a-500(c), and added a new subsection. (e) provide that the issuance of a permit to carry a handgun or revolver does not authorize the possession or carrying of a handgun or revolver when prohibited by law or by the person who owns or exercises control over the premises; PA 99-212 added a new subsection. (b)(7) prohibiting the issuance of a license to an applicant who is subject to a firearms seizure order issued pursuant to Sec. 29-38c(d) after notice and hearing, renumbering the Subdiv. remaining. accordingly, and made gender-neutral provisions; PA 01-130 Amended Subsections. (a), (b), and (d) establish state retail licenses and state handgun licenses and handguns in lieu of local retail licenses and local carry licenses, added Subsec. (b)(9) prohibiting the issuance of a state transportation license to persons under the age of 21, subsection added. (f) provide out-of-state residents with obtaining state licenses to transport and make technical and compliance changes; PA 05-283 added a new subsection. (b)(8) prohibiting the issuance of a license to an applicant who is prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing, or receiving a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922(g)(4), existing subdivisions reassigned. (8) and (9) as Subdivs. (9) and (10); PA 07-163 as amended Subsection. (b) add a provision requiring the commissioner, upon issuance of the state license, to make available to the licensee a copy of the law requiring notification of loss or theft of a firearm and the penalties for violation the law.

See Sec. 53-202 re penalties for illegal use or possession of machine guns.

See Sec. 53-206 for penalties for carrying or selling dangerous weapons.

After defendant's loaded revolver was removed from his waistband while he was sitting in his car after midnight in a high crime area, the officer warranted defendant's arrest and arrest under the circumstances of quick informant information. 157 C. 114. The search of defendant's automobile, after his arrest for disorderly conduct, that he threw a weapon was incidental to his arrest and was properly carried out. Id., 222. Cited. 163 C. 176. This section has the effect of placing the burden of proof on the alleged infringers, which constitutes a denial of due process and is therefore invalid. 165 C. 577, 597. Cited. 170 C. 81. The State must prove, beyond all reasonable doubt, that the corresponding license was not issued, as this is an essential element of the crime. Id., 234. Cited. 172 C. 21; Id., 94. Cited. 174 C. 22; Id., 405. Cited. 178 C. 534. Cited. 179 C. 516. Cited. 193 C. 7. Cited. 209 C. 322. Cited. 222 C. 621.

aforementioned. 9CA 169; judgment reversed, see 205 c.370; Id., 330. Cited. 17 CA 556. Cited. 25 CA 433. Cited. 36 CA 576. Cited. 38 CA 434. Cited. 39 CA 224; id., 242.

Separate and distinct crime from carrying dangerous weapons in person. 10 CS 272. Cited. 22 CS 173; Id., 201. Cited. 23 CS 82. Cited. 35 CS 659. Cited. 42 CS 157.

aforementioned. 5 connections cir. Connecticut. 119.

Subsection (b):

The purpose of the statutory scheme is to protect the public from individuals whose conduct has shown that they lack the essential character or temperament necessary to receive a firearm. 46CS 550.