Connecticut strengthened its gun laws after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. State legislators passed laws that were widely viewed as the most sweeping set of gun laws in the country. Today, gun laws in Connecticut continue to be viewed as among the strictest in the nation.
As a leader in preventing gun violence, Connecticut has implemented a program for removing illegal guns and a law that limits qualified immunity for police who abuse civilians. In addition, Connecticut gun laws prohibit open carrying of firearms in public, require mandatory background checks for anyone wishing to obtain a firearm, limit the size of magazines, and prohibit people from owning many kinds of military-style weapons.
If you own a gun in Connecticut or are considering getting one, it is important to understand Connecticut gun laws and the penalties you could face for violating them.
No. As part of the new set of gun laws passed in 2023, Connecticut joined three other states in prohibiting gun owners from openly carrying firearms in public. The law includes several exceptions, including for people who are hunting or shooting at a firing range. Additionally, someone who has taken “reasonable measures” to conceal a firearm is not violating the law.
Yes. Connecticut is one of more than a dozen states that require a permit for anyone who carries a concealed firearm in public. Someone who wishes to apply for a pistol permit must be at least 21 years old, cannot have any felony convictions or certain misdemeanor convictions, and must receive approval from their local police department or First Selectperson.
Connecticut does not honor concealed carry permits from other states. Non-residents must apply to the State Police to receive a pistol permit.
Under federal law, anyone who was convicted of a felony, committed to a mental institution, or dishonorably discharged from the military is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Connecticut goes even further, prohibiting people who have been convicted of certain misdemeanors, such as threatening or drug possession, or anyone convicted of a serious juvenile offense from possessing a firearm.
Connecticut’s 1993 assault weapons ban prohibited people from possessing firearms that were capable of selective fire, meaning the user could switch between automatic, semi-automatic, and burst fire.
Following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Connecticut lawmakers expanded the weapons ban to include the AR-15 assault rifle and similar variants. That law included a clause that allowed people to possess this style of gun if they were purchased between 1993 and 2013, as long as the weapons were registered with the State Police. The law also banned weapons with certain design features, such as semi-automatic shotguns with a detachable magazine or semi-automatic pistols capable of being equipped with a silencer.
In 2023, lawmakers updated the law again, closing a loophole that allowed people to keep and sell weapons manufactured before 1994 without additional restrictions.
Connecticut law prohibits unserialized or homemade firearms, commonly known as “ghost guns.” Unserialized weapons manufactured after 1968 must be registered with the State Police and stamped with a serial number or other mark.
It depends. If you have a pistol permit, you can drive with a loaded handgun in your vehicle. Otherwise, you can only transport a gun in your car if it is unloaded and kept in the trunk or another locked container other than the glovebox or center console. This law also applies to BB guns.
Connecticut laws generally allow activities like target practice and hunting on private land. However, many cities and towns have stricter ordinances prohibiting anyone from discharging a firearm.
State law prohibits hunting within 500 feet of most buildings or across public roadways.
The penalties for violating Connecticut gun laws can be severe and may include fines, minimum mandatory prison sentences, and firearm forfeiture.
If you were charged with a gun crime in Connecticut, you need experienced legal representation. The Lebedevitch Law Firm can help. Contact our law firm today.
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