Connecticut Firearm Laws :: American Gun Owners Alliance

Civilian rifle clubs affiliated with the National Rifle Association of the United States and members of organized police departments may be permitted to use the outdoor and indoor rifle and pistol ranges belonging to, or under the control of, the Division of State Police within the Department of Public Safety for practice with small arms in accordance with such regulations as the Commissioner of Public Safety may prescribe, provided such use of any rifle or pistol range shall at no time interfere with the instruction or practice of members of the Division of State Police.

(1967, P.A. 443; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136.)

History: P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 made state police department a division within the department of public safety and replaced commissioner of state police with commissioner of public safety, effective January 1, 1979.

The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall charge the following fees for the item or service indicated:

Each search of the record files made pursuant to a request for a copy of an accident or investigative report which results in no document being produced, sixteen dollars.
Each copy of an accident or investigative report, sixteen dollars.

(May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 56, 117; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 306; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2, S. 113; P.A. 13-32, S. 11.)

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 increased fees from $8 to $16; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2 replaced "Commissioner of Public Safety" with "Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection", effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 13-32 deleted "six dollars, and on and after July 1, 1993,", effective July 1, 2013.

The term "pistol" and the term "revolver", as used in sections 29-28 to 29-38, inclusive, mean any firearm having a barrel less than twelve inches in length.

(1949 Rev., S. 4157; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 14.)

History: July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 made no substantive change.

Cited. 173 C. 254. Cited. 205 C. 370. Cited. 211 C. 258. Cited. 242 C. 318.
Cited. 3 CA 289. Cited. 7 CA 367. Cited. 9 CA 169; judgment reversed, see 205 C. 370; Id., 330. Cited. 11 CA 621. Cited. 24 CA 737. Cited. 25 CA 433; Id., 578. Cited. 30 CA 68. Cited. 36 CA 805. Cited. 43 CA 252.

No person who sells ten or more pistols or revolvers in a calendar year or is a federally-licensed firearm dealer shall advertise, sell, deliver, or offer or expose for sale or delivery, or have in such person's possession with intent to sell or deliver, any pistol or revolver at retail without having a permit therefor issued as provided in this subsection. The chief of police or, where there is no chief of police, the warden of the borough or the first selectman of the town, as the case may be, may, upon the application of any person, issue a permit in such form as may be prescribed by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection for the sale at retail of pistols and revolvers within the jurisdiction of the authority issuing such permit. No permit for the sale at retail of any pistol or revolver shall be issued unless the applicant holds a valid eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to section 29-36f or a valid state permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to 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 take place except that any person selling or exchanging a pistol or revolver for the enhancement of a personal collection or for a hobby or who sells all or part of such person's personal collection of pistols or revolvers shall not be required to submit such documentation for the location where the sale or exchange is to take place.
Upon the application of any person having a bona fide permanent residence or place of business within the jurisdiction of any such authority, such chief of police, warden or selectman may issue a temporary state permit to such person to carry a pistol or revolver within the state, provided such authority shall find that such applicant intends to make no use of any pistol or revolver which such applicant may be permitted to carry under such permit other than a lawful use and that such person is a suitable person to receive such permit. No state or temporary state permit to carry a pistol or revolver shall be issued under this subsection if the applicant
1. has failed to successfully complete a course approved by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection in the safety and use of pistols and revolvers including, but not limited to, a safety or training course in the use of pistols and revolvers available to the public offered by a law enforcement agency, a private or public educational institution or a firearms training school, utilizing instructors certified by the National Rifle Association or the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and a safety or training course in the use of pistols or revolvers conducted by an instructor certified by the state or the National Rifle Association,
2. has been convicted of
  1. a felony or
  2. on or after October 1, 1994, a violation of section 21a-279, as amended by this act, or section 53a-58, 53a-61, 53a-61a, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-96, 53a-175, 53a-176, 53a-178 or 53a-181d,
3. has been convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense, as defined in section 46b-120,
4. has been discharged from custody within the preceding twenty years after having been found not guilty of a crime by reason of mental disease or defect pursuant to section 53a-13,
5. 1. has been confined in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding sixty months by order of a probate court, or
  2. has been voluntarily admitted on or after October 1, 2013, to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding six months for care and treatment of a psychiatric disability and not solely for being an alcohol-dependent person or a drug-dependent person as those terms are defined in section 17a-680,
6. is subject to a restraining or protective order issued by a court in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, including an ex parte order issued pursuant to section 46b-15, as amended by this act, or 46b-16a, as amended by this act,
7. is subject to a firearms seizure order issued pursuant to subsection (d) of section 29-38c after notice and hearing,
8. is prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922(g)(4),
9. is an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States, or
10. is less than twenty-one years of age. Nothing in this section shall require any person who holds a valid permit to carry a pistol or revolver on October 1, 1994, to participate in any additional training in the safety and use of pistols and revolvers. No person may apply for a temporary state permit to carry a pistol or revolver more than once within any twelve-month period, and no temporary state permit to carry a pistol or revolver shall be issued to any person who has applied for such permit more than once within the preceding twelve months. Any person who applies for a temporary state permit to carry a pistol or revolver shall indicate in writing on the application, under penalty of false statement in such manner as the issuing authority prescribes, that such person has not applied for a temporary state permit to carry a pistol or revolver within the past twelve months. Upon issuance of a temporary state permit to carry a pistol or revolver to the applicant, the local authority shall forward the original application to the commissioner. Not later than sixty days after receiving a temporary state permit, an applicant shall appear at a location designated by the commissioner to receive the state permit. The commissioner may then issue, to any holder of any temporary state permit, a state permit to carry a pistol or revolver within the state. Upon issuance of the state permit, the commissioner shall make available to the permit holder a copy of the law regarding the permit holder's responsibility to report the loss or theft of a firearm and the penalties associated with the failure to comply with such law. Upon issuance of the state permit, the commissioner shall forward a record of such permit to the local authority issuing the temporary state permit. The commissioner shall retain records of all applications, whether approved or denied. The copy of the state permit delivered to the permittee shall be laminated and shall contain a full-face photograph of such permittee. A person holding a state permit issued pursuant to this subsection shall notify the issuing authority within two business days of any change of such person's address. The notification shall include the old address and the new address of such person.
No issuing authority may require any sworn member of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or an organized local police department to furnish such sworn member's residence address in a permit application. The issuing authority shall allow each such sworn member who has a permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued by such authority, to revise such member's application to include a business or post office address in lieu of the residence address. The issuing authority shall notify each such member of the right to revise such application.
Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1-210 and 1-211, the name and address of a person issued a permit to sell at retail pistols and revolvers pursuant to subsection (a) of this section or a state or a temporary state permit to carry a pistol or revolver pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, or a local permit to carry pistols and revolvers issued by local authorities prior to October 1, 2001, shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed, except
1. such information may be disclosed to law enforcement officials acting in the performance of their duties, including, but not limited to, employees of the United States Probation Office acting in the performance of their duties and parole officers within the Department of Correction 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 pursuant to section 29-33, as amended by this act, section 29-37a, as amended by this act, or section 14 of this act for verification that such state or temporary state permit is still valid and has not been suspended or revoked, and the local authority may disclose such information to the extent necessary to comply with a request made pursuant to section 29-33, as amended by this act, section 29-37a, as amended by this act, or section 14 of this act for verification that a local permit 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 to carry out the provisions of subsection (c) of section 17a-500, as amended by this act.
The issuance of any permit to carry a pistol or revolver does not thereby authorize the possession or carrying of a pistol or revolver in any premises where the possession or carrying of a pistol or revolver is otherwise prohibited by law or is prohibited by the person who owns or exercises control over such premises.
Any bona fide resident of the United States having no bona fide permanent residence or place of business within the jurisdiction of any local authority in the state, but who has a permit or license to carry a pistol or revolver issued by the authority of another state or subdivision of the United States, may apply directly to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a permit to carry a pistol or revolver in this state. All provisions of subsections (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this section shall apply to applications for a permit 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; P.A. 93-172, S. 1; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 4; P.A. 98-129, S. 6; P.A. 99-212, S. 19; P.A. 01-130, S. 4; P.A. 05-283, S. 4; P.A. 07-163, S. 2; P.A. 13-220. S. 14; P.A. 13-3, S. 57; 2015, P.A. 15.216, S.3; P.A. 15-2, S.3; 2016 Public Act 16-34 § 7)

History: 1959 act corrected typographical error; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of state police with commissioner of public safety, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 90-155 added provision re compliance with local zoning requirements; P.A. 92-130 divided section into two Subsecs., inserting new language as Subsec. (b) to prohibit issuing authority from requiring police officers to furnish their residence addresses in permit applications and to require issuing authority to allow police officers who have a permit to carry a pistol or revolver on May 26, 1992, to revise such applications to include business or post office address in lieu of residence address; P.A. 93-172 amended Subsec. (a) to require copy of state permit delivered to permittee to be laminated and contain full-face photograph of permittee; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 amended Subsec. (a) to require any person "who sells ten or more pistols or revolvers in a calendar year or is a federally-licensed firearm dealer" to obtain a permit for the sale at retail of pistols and revolvers and to prohibit the issuance of such permit unless the applicant holds a valid eligibility certificate or valid permit to carry, designated as Subsec. (b) existing provisions re application for and issuance of permit to carry and amended said Subsec. to replace provision prohibiting the issuance of such permit to an alien with provision prohibiting the issuance of such permit to any applicant who comes within any of the six specified circumstances, add provision exempting current permit holders from additional training and add provision requiring a permit holder to notify the issuing authority of any change of address, redesignated former Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c) and added Subsec. (d) re confidentiality of name and address of permit holders; P.A. 98-129 added new Subsec. (b)(3) prohibiting the issuance of a permit to an applicant who has been convicted as delinquent of a serious juvenile offense, renumbering the remaining Subdivs. accordingly, and replacing in Subdiv. (5) "hospital for mental illness" with "hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities", added Subsec. (d)(3) authorizing the disclosure of such information to the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to carry out the provisions of Sec. 17a-500(c), and added new Subsec. (e) to provide that the issuance of a permit to carry a pistol or revolver does not thereby authorize the possession or carrying of a pistol or revolver where prohibited by law or by the person who owns or exercises control over the premises; P.A. 99-212 added new Subsec. (b)(7) prohibiting the issuance of a permit to an applicant who is subject to a firearms seizure order issued pursuant to Sec. 29-38c(d) after notice and hearing, renumbering remaining Subdiv. accordingly, and made provisions gender neutral; P.A. 01-130 amended Subsecs. (a), (b) and (d) to establish state permits for sale at retail and state permits to carry pistols and revolvers in place of local permits for sale and local permits to carry, added Subsec. (b)(9) prohibiting a state permit to carry from being issued to persons under age 21, added Subsec. (f) providing for out-of-state residents to obtain state permits to carry, and made technical and conforming changes throughout; P.A. 05-283 added new Subsec. (b)(8) prohibiting the issuance of a permit to an applicant who is prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922 (g)(4), redesignated existing Subdivs. (8) and (9) as Subdivs. (9) and (10); P.A. 07-163 amended Subsec. (b) to add provision requiring commissioner, upon issuance of state permit, to make available to permit holder a copy of the law requiring reporting of the loss or theft of a firearm and penalties for failure to comply with the law.

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

See Sec. 53-206 re penalties for carrying or sale of dangerous weapons.

After defendant's loaded revolver was removed from his waistband while he was seated in his car after midnight in a high crime area, officer justified in seizure and arrest of defendant under the circumstances of speedy information by informant. 157 C. 114. Search of defendant's car, upon his arrest for breach of the peace, which yielded weapon was incidental to his arrest and properly made. Id., 222. Cited. 163 C. 176. This section has the effect of placing the burden of proof on alleged violators constituting a denial of due process and is therefore invalid. 165 C. 577, 597. Cited. 170 C. 81. State must prove beyond reasonable doubt that proper permit had not been issued, since that is 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.

Cited. 9 CA 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 the carrying of dangerous weapons on the person. 10 CS 272. Cited. 22 CS 173; Id., 201. Cited. 23 CS 82. Cited. 35 CS 659. Cited. 42 CS 157.

Cited. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 119.
Subsec. (b):

Purpose of statutory scheme is to protect the public from individuals whose conduct has shown them to be lacking the essential character or temperament necessary to be entrusted with a weapon. 46 CS 550.

Requests for temporary state permits under section 29-28 shall be submitted to the chief of police, or, where there is no chief of police, to the warden of the borough or the first selectman of the town, as the case may be, on application forms prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Safety. Upon written request by any person for a temporary state permit not on a prescribed application form, or upon request by any person for such application form, the local authority shall supply such forms. When any such request is made in person at the office of the local authority, the local authority shall supply such application form immediately. When any such request is made in any other manner, the local authority shall supply such application form not later than one week after receiving such request. If such application form is not supplied within the time limits required by this section, the request therefor shall constitute a sufficient application. If any local authority fails to supply an application form upon the request of any person, such person may request an application form from the Commissioner of Public Safety or any barracks of the Division of State Police, and the time limits and procedures set forth in this section for handling requests for such forms shall be applicable.
The local authority shall, not later than eight weeks after a sufficient application for a temporary state permit has been made, inform the applicant that such applicant's request for a temporary state permit has been approved or denied. The local authority shall forward a copy of the application indicating approval or denial of the temporary state permit to the Commissioner of Public Safety. If the local authority has denied the application for a temporary state permit, no state permit may be issued. The commissioner shall, not later than eight weeks after receiving an application indicating approval from the local authority, inform the applicant in writing that the applicant's application for a state permit has been approved or denied, or that the results of the national criminal history records check have not been received. If grounds for denial become known after a temporary state permit has been obtained, the temporary state permit shall be immediately revoked pursuant to section 29-32.

(1963, P.A. 115; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 81-342, S. 2; P.A. 84-60; P.A. 01-130, S. 5.)

History: P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of state police with commissioner of public safety, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 81-342 amended Subsec. (a) by adding the provision that a person may request an application from the commissioner of public safety or a state police barracks if the issuing authority fails to supply an application upon request; P.A. 84-60 amended Subsec. (b), extending the notification period for the granting or denial of a permit from six to eight weeks; P.A. 01-130 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to substitute "local" authority for "issuing" authority to reflect change from local to state permit and make technical and conforming changes, added provisions re chief of police, warden and first selectman in Subsec. (a) and added provisions re forwarding of copy of application to and notice to applicant from Commissioner of Public Safety in Subsec. (b).

Cited. 193 C. 7.
Cited. 9 CA 169; judgment reversed, see 205 C. 370. Cited. 25 CA 433.
Cited. 42 CS 157.
Subsec. (b):
Time limit is directory provision not mandatory. 42 CS 157.

No temporary state permit for carrying any pistol or revolver shall be issued under the provisions of section 29-28 unless the applicant for such permit gives to the local authority, upon its request, full information concerning the applicant's criminal record. The local authority shall require the applicant to submit to state and national criminal history records checks. The local authority shall take a full description of such applicant and make an investigation concerning the applicant's suitability to carry any such weapons.
The local authority shall take the fingerprints of such applicant or conduct any other method of positive identification required by the State Police Bureau of Identification or the Federal Bureau of Investigation, unless the local authority determines that the fingerprints of such applicant have been previously taken and the applicant's identity established, and such applicant presents identification that the local authority verifies as valid. The local authority shall record the date the fingerprints were taken in the applicant's file and, within five business days of such date, shall forward such fingerprints or other positive identifying information to the State Police Bureau of Identification which shall conduct criminal history records checks in accordance with section 29-17a.
The local authority may, in its discretion, issue a temporary state permit before a national criminal history records check relative to such applicant's record has been received. Upon receipt of the results of such national criminal history records check, the commissioner shall send a copy of the results of such national criminal history records check to the local authority, which shall inform the applicant and render a decision on the application within one week of the receipt of such results. If such results have not been received within eight weeks after a sufficient application for a permit has been made, the local authority shall inform the applicant of such delay, in writing. No temporary state permit shall be issued if the local authority has reason to believe the applicant has ever been convicted of a felony, or that any other condition exists for which the issuance of a permit for possession of a pistol or revolver is prohibited under state or federal law.
The commissioner may investigate any applicant for a state permit and shall investigate each applicant for renewal of a state permit to ensure that such applicant is eligible under state law for such permit or for renewal of such permit.
No state permit may be issued unless either the local authority or the commissioner has received the results of the national criminal history records check.

(1949 Rev., S. 4160; P.A. 92-130, S. 6, 10; P.A. 98-129, S. 5; P.A. 01-130, S. 6; P.A. 01-175, S. 22, 32.)

History: P.A. 92-130 required issuing authority to record date fingerprints were taken, authorized forwarding of fingerprints to FBI for national criminal history records check, authorized issuing authority to issue permit before report from FBI is received, required issuing authority to inform applicant and render a decision on application within one week of receipt of report, and, if report has not been received within eight weeks after application is made, to inform applicant of delay, and prohibited issuance of permit if issuing authority has reason to believe applicant has been convicted of a felony; P.A. 98-129 relieved the issuing authority of the requirement that it take the fingerprints of the applicant if it determines that the fingerprints of the applicant have been previously taken and the applicant's identity established and the applicant presents identification that the issuing authority verifies as valid and made the submission of the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by the issuing authority mandatory rather than discretionary; P.A. 01-130 substituted "local" authority for "issuing" authority to reflect change from local permit to state permit, adding new Subsecs., designated as (d) and (e), re commissioner's investigation of applicants and required receipt of results of national criminal history records check before state permit issued, and made technical and conforming changes; P.A. 01-175 made technical changes throughout, designated existing language as Subsecs. (a) to (c), amended Subsec. (a) by adding language re state and national criminal history records checks, and amended Subsec. (b) by adding language re method of positive identification and criminal history records checks pursuant to Sec. 29-17a, effective July 1, 2001.

Cited. 193 C. 7. Cited. 200 C. 453. Cited. 209 C. 322.
Cited. 7 CA 457. Cited. 9 CA 169; judgment reversed, see 205 C. 370.
Cited. 39 CS 202. Cited. 42 CS 157.

The fee for each permit originally issued under the provisions of subsection (a) of section 29-28 for the sale at retail of pistols and revolvers shall be two hundred dollars and for each renewal thereof two hundred dollars. The fee for each state permit originally issued under the provisions of subsection (b) of section 29-28 for the carrying of pistols and revolvers shall be one hundred forty dollars plus sufficient funds as required to be transmitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to cover the cost of a national criminal history records check. The local authority shall forward sufficient funds for the national criminal history records check to the commissioner no later than five business days after receipt by the local authority of the application for the temporary state permit. Seventy dollars shall be retained by the local authority. Upon approval by the local authority of the application for a temporary state permit, seventy dollars shall be sent to the commissioner. The fee to renew each state permit originally issued under the provisions of subsection (b) of section 29-28 shall be seventy dollars. Upon deposit of such fees in the General Fund, ten dollars of each fee shall be credited within thirty days to the appropriation for the Department of Public Safety to a separate nonlapsing account for the purposes of the issuance of permits under subsections (a) and (b) of section 29-28.
A local permit originally issued before October 1, 2001, whether for the sale at retail of pistols and revolvers or for the carrying of pistols and revolvers, shall expire five years after the date it becomes effective and each renewal thereof shall expire five years after the expiration date of the permit being renewed. On and after October 1, 2001, no local permit for the carrying of pistols and revolvers shall be renewed.
A state permit originally issued under the provisions of section 29-28 for the carrying of pistols and revolvers shall expire five years after the date such permit becomes effective and each renewal thereof shall expire five years after the expiration date of the state permit being renewed and such renewal shall not be contingent on the renewal or issuance of a local permit. A temporary state permit issued for the carrying of pistols and revolvers shall expire sixty days after the date it becomes effective, and may not be renewed.
The renewal fee required pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall apply for each renewal which is requested not earlier than thirty-one days before, and not later than thirty-one days after, the expiration date of the state permit being renewed.
No fee or portion thereof paid under the provisions of this section for issuance or renewal of a state permit shall be refundable except if such permit for which the fee or portion thereof was paid was not issued or renewed. The portion of the fee expended on the national criminal history records check for any such permit that was not issued or renewed shall not be refunded.
The issuing authority shall send a notice of the expiration of a state permit to carry a pistol or revolver, issued pursuant to section 29-28, to the holder of such permit, by first class mail, not less than ninety days before such expiration, and shall enclose with such notice a form for the renewal of said state permit. A state permit to carry a pistol or revolver, issued pursuant to section 29-28, shall be valid for a period of ninety days after the expiration date, except this provision shall not apply to any state permit to carry a pistol or revolver which has been revoked or for which revocation is pending, pursuant to section 29-32.

(1949 Rev., S. 4161; 1953, S. 2132d; 1959, P.A. 271; P.A. 73-468, S. 1; P.A. 80-297, S. 10, 20; P.A. 81-222, S. 1; P.A. 89-180, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-172, S. 2; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 5; P.A. 98-129, S. 4; P.A. 99-212, S. 11; P.A. 01-130, S. 7; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 309.)

History: 1959 act added Subsecs. (b), (c) and (d); P.A. 73-468 increased permit fees in Subsec. (a) from $2 to $6 for originals and from $1 to $5 for renewals, increased duration of permits' validity in Subsec. (b) from one to five years, changed expiration date in Subsec. (c) from 31 days after local permit expires to five years and added Subsec. (e) re refunds of fees paid; P.A. 80-297 raised fee for original and renewal permits to $15 each in Subsec. (a); P.A. 81-222 added Subsec. (f) requiring that notice of expiration of a permit to carry a pistol or revolver be sent at least 90 days before expiration and providing such a permit shall be valid for 90 days after the expiration date; P.A. 89-180 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fees for original and renewal permits from $15 to $25; P.A. 93-172 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fees for original and renewal permits to $35 and to require $10 of each fee to be credited to appropriation to department of public safety for purpose of photographing permittee and laminating state permits for carrying pistols and revolvers; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 amended Subsec. (a) to increase the fee for a permit for the sale at retail of pistols and revolvers and for the renewal thereof to $100 and to require that the $10 credited to the appropriation to the department of public safety be credited within 30 days and be credited "to a separate nonlapsing account for the purposes of the issuance of permits under subsections (a) and (b) of section 29-28" rather than "for the purpose of photographing the permittee and laminating state permits for the carrying of pistols and revolvers issued under the provisions of subsection (a) of section 29-28"; P.A. 98-129 amended Subsec. (a) to delete provision requiring that $10 of each fee be credited to the appropriation to the Department of Public Safety; P.A. 99-212 amended Subsec. (a) to restore provision requiring that $10 of each fee be credited to the appropriation for the Department of Public Safety for purposes of issuance of permits under Sec. 29-28(a) and (b) and to make provisions gender neutral; P.A. 01-130 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fee for permit to carry from $35 to $70 plus the cost of national criminal history records check and to add provisions re allocation of funds between local authority and commissioner, amended Subsec. (b) to add provision prohibiting renewal of local permit to carry on and after October 1, 2001, amended Subsec. (c) to add provision re the expiration of temporary state permits, amended Subsec. (e) to add provision re nonrefund of fee expended on national criminal history records check and made technical changes throughout to reflect the change from local permits to state permits; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fees.

Cited. 193 C. 7, 8, 12.
Cited. 9 CA 169; judgment reversed, see 205 C. 370.

No sale of any pistol or revolver shall be made except in the room, store or place described in the permit for the sale of pistols and revolvers, and such permit or a copy thereof certified by the authority issuing the same shall be exposed to view within the room, store or place where pistols or revolvers are sold or offered or exposed for sale. No sale or delivery of any pistol or revolver shall be made unless the purchaser or person to whom the same is to be delivered is personally known to the vendor of such pistol or revolver or the person making delivery thereof or unless the person making such purchase or to whom delivery thereof is to be made provides evidence of his or her identity. The vendor of any pistol or revolver shall keep a record of each pistol or revolver sold in a book kept for that purpose, which record shall be in such form as is prescribed by 27 CFR 478.125. The vendor of any pistol or revolver shall make such record available for inspection upon the request of any sworn member of an organized local police department or the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or any investigator assigned to the state-wide firearms trafficking task force established under section 29-38e.

(1949 Rev., S. 4162; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; P.A. 12-191, S. 1.)

For the purposes of this section, "conviction" means the entry of a judgment of conviction by any court of competent jurisdiction.
Any state permit or temporary state permit for the carrying of any pistol or revolver may be revoked by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection for cause and shall be revoked by said commissioner upon conviction of the holder of such permit of a felony or of any misdemeanor specified in subsection (b) of section 29-28, as amended by this act, or upon the occurrence of any event which would have disqualified the holder from being issued the state permit or temporary state permit pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-28, as amended by this act, Upon the revocation of any state permit or temporary state permit, the person whose state permit or temporary state permit is revoked shall be notified in writing and such state permit or temporary state permit shall be forthwith delivered to the commissioner. Any law enforcement authority shall confiscate and immediately forward to the commissioner any state permit or temporary state permit that is illegally possessed by any person. The commissioner may revoke the state permit or temporary state permit based upon the commissioner's own investigation or upon the request of any law enforcement agency. Any person who fails to surrender any permit within five days of notification in writing of revocation thereof shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
Any local permit for the carrying of a pistol or revolver issued prior to October 1, 2001, may be revoked by the authority issuing the same for cause, and shall be revoked by the authority issuing the same upon conviction of the holder of such permit of a felony or of any misdemeanor specified in subsection (b) of section 29-28, as amended by this act, or upon the occurrence of any event which would have disqualified the holder from being issued such local permit. Upon the revocation of any local permit, the person whose local permit is revoked shall be notified in writing and such permit shall be forthwith delivered to the authority issuing the same. Upon the revocation of any local permit, the authority issuing the same shall forthwith notify the commissioner. Upon the revocation of any permit issued by the commissioner, the commissioner shall forthwith notify any local authority which the records of the commissioner show as having issued a currently valid local permit to the holder of the permit revoked by the commissioner. Any person who fails to surrender such permit within five days of notification in writing or revocation thereof shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
If a state permit or temporary state permit for the carrying of any pistol or revolver is revoked because the person holding such permit is subject to an ex parte order issued pursuant to section 46b-15, as amended by this act, or 46b-16a, as amended by this act, upon expiration of such order, such person may notify the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection that such order has expired. Upon verification of such expiration and provided such person is not otherwise disqualified from holding such permit pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-28, as amended by this act, the department shall reinstate such permit.

(1949 Rev., S. 4163; P.A. 73-468, S. 2; P.A. 77-361; 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 82-464, S. 2; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 6; P.A. 01-130, S. 8; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; P.A. 13-3, S. 46; 2016 Public Act 16-34 § 11)

History: P.A. 73-468 deleted reference to permits issued under Sec. 29-28, specified that revocation must be "for cause", deleted provision which required that revocation of one permit constitutes automatic revocation of the other and clarified required notice to local authorities when state permit is revoked; P.A. 77-361 required that person whose permit is revoked be notified of the revocation and established failure to surrender permit as required as a class C misdemeanor; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of state police with commissioner of public safety, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 82-464 provided for the mandatory revocation of a permit upon the conviction of the holder of a felony; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 provided for the mandatory revocation of a permit upon the conviction of the holder of any misdemeanor specified in Sec. 29-28(b) or upon the occurrence of any event which would have disqualified the holder from being issued the permit pursuant to Sec. 29-28(b); P.A. 01-130 added Subsec. (a) defining "conviction", designated existing provisions as Subsec. (b) and reflected the change from local permits to state permits by substituting the Commissioner of Public Safety for local authorities and adding "state permit or temporary state permit", where applicable, and adding provisions re confiscation of permits illegally possessed and revocation of permits, and added Subsec. (c) re the revocation of local permits; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, "Commissioner of Public Safety" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection" in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-3 amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) to change penalty for failure to surrender permit from a class C misdemeanor to a class A misdemeanor.

Cited. 193 C. 7. Revocation of pistol permit is required despite defendant's conviction of an offense prior to effective date of the public act requiring revocation. 243 C. 250.
Cited. 9 CA 169; judgment reversed, see 205 C. 370.

Meets requirements of procedural due process without providing for notice and hearing before revocation. 36 CS 108.

There is established a Board of Firearms Permit Examiners, within the Office of Governmental Accountability established under section 1-300, to be comprised of nine members, eight of whom shall be appointed by the Governor to serve during the Governor's term and until such members' successors are appointed and qualify, and one of whom shall be a retired judge of the Superior Court appointed by the Chief Court Administrator. With the exception of two public members, the members appointed by the Governor shall be appointed from nominees of the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Connecticut State Association of Chiefs of Police, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, The Connecticut State Rifle and Revolver Association, Inc., and Ye Connecticut Gun Guild, Inc., and each of said organizations shall be entitled to representation on the board. At least one member of the board appointed by the Governor shall be a lawyer licensed to practice in this state who shall act as chairman of the board during the hearing of appeals brought under this section.
Any person aggrieved by any refusal to issue or renew a permit or certificate under the provisions of section 29-28, 29-36f, 29-37p or 29-38n, or by any limitation or revocation of a permit or certificate issued under any of said sections, or by a refusal or failure of any issuing authority to furnish an application as provided in section 29-28a, may, within ninety days after receipt of notice of such refusal, limitation or revocation, or refusal or failure to supply an application as provided in section 29-28a, and without prejudice to any other course of action open to such person in law or in equity, appeal to the board. On such appeal the board shall inquire into and determine the facts, de novo, and unless it finds that such a refusal, limitation or revocation, or such refusal or failure to supply an application, as the case may be, would be for just and proper cause, it shall order such permit or certificate to be issued, renewed or restored, or the limitation removed or modified, as the case may be. If the refusal was for failure to document compliance with local zoning requirements, under subsection (a) of section 29-28, the board shall not issue a permit.
Any person aggrieved by the action of an issuing authority may file with the board a clear and concise statement of the facts on which such person relies for relief, and shall state the relief sought by the appellant. The receipt by the board of the appellant's statement shall initiate the appeals process, and no appeal may be rejected for mere lack of formality. The board shall, not later than ten days after receipt of the appeal, set a time and place at which the appeal shall be heard. The board, while such appeal is pending, may request such additional information from the appellant and from the issuing authority as it deems reasonably necessary to conduct a fair and impartial hearing, and shall require of the issuing authority from whose decision or action the appeal is being sought a written statement setting forth the reasons for such failure, refusal, revocation or limitation. The failure, absent good cause shown, or refusal of the issuing authority to furnish such written statement, or to supply the appellant with an application, at least ten days prior to the hearing shall be cause for the board to grant the relief sought, forthwith and without further hearing. If the issuing authority shows good cause for its failure to furnish such written statement, the board shall continue the matter to the next scheduled meeting of the board, provided the issuing authority shall be allowed only one such continuance.
The board shall hold hearings at such times and places as it in its discretion reasonably determines to be required, but not less than once every ninety days, and shall give reasonable notice of the time and place of the hearing to the appellant and to the issuing authority. The board shall have the power to compel attendance at its sessions.
All appeals hearings shall be conducted in an informal manner, but otherwise according to the rules of evidence, and all witnesses shall be sworn by the chairman. The board shall cause a verbatim transcript of the hearing to be kept in such manner as it may determine, and shall furnish such transcript to any party appealing its decision as hereinafter set forth. The statements of witnesses made under oath shall be privileged. Decisions of the board shall be by majority vote and shall be communicated in writing to the appellant and to the issuing authority within twenty days after the rendering of the decision. If any issuing authority neglects or refuses to comply with a decision of the board within ten days after notice of the board's decision has been given to such issuing authority, the board shall apply to the Superior Court for a writ of mandamus to enforce the board's decision.
Any person aggrieved by the decision of the board may appeal therefrom in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183.
The board shall serve without compensation, but its members shall be entitled to reasonable subsistence and travel allowances in the performance of their duties.

(1967, P.A. 633, S. 2; P.A. 76-435, S. 39, 82; 76-436, S. 609, 681; P.A. 77-603, S. 16, 125; 77-614, S. 486, 509, 610; P.A. 90-155, S. 2; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 11; P.A. 98-129, S. 10; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 120, 121; P.A. 99-212, S. 13; P.A. 11-48, S. 66; 11-51, S. 134; 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 13-3, S. 6, 60, 61; 13-220, S. 18.)

History: P.A. 76-435 replaced director of fisheries and game with commissioner of environmental protection in Subsec. (a); P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court and added reference to judicial districts in Subsec. (f), effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-603 replaced previous detailed appeal provisions in Subsec. (f) with requirement that appeals be made in accordance with Sec. 4-183; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of state police with commissioner of public safety, increased number of board members from five to seven and placed board of firearms permit examiners in the department of public safety for administrative purposes only, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 90-155 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision re refusal for failure to document compliance with local zoning requirements; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 amended Subsec. (b) to make provisions applicable with respect to the issuance of a certificate under Sec. 29-36f; P.A. 98-129 amended Subsec. (b) to delete references to Secs. 53-206 and 53-206a; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 repealed Sec. 10 of P.A. 98-129, thereby nullifying the changes in P.A. 98-129, effective June 24, 1998 (Revisor's note: In 1999 the words "refusal or failure or any issuing authority" in Subsec. (b) were replaced editorially with "refusal or failure of any issuing authority" to correct a typographical error in P.A. 90-155); P.A. 99-212 amended Subsec. (b) to delete references to Secs. 53-206 and 53-206a and make provisions gender neutral; P.A. 11-48 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing provision re board within Department of Public Safety for administrative purposes only with provision re board within Office of Governmental Accountability, effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, "Commissioner of Public Safety" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection" in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, "Commissioner of Environmental Protection" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection" in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (a) to increase membership of board from 7 to 9 by adding retired judge appointed by Chief Court Administrator and nominee of Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services appointed by Governor, amended Subsec. (b) to make provisions applicable to issuance or renewal of certificate under Sec. 29-37p, amended Subsec. (c) to add provision re board to continue matter to next meeting, and not exceeding one continuance, if issuing authority shows good cause for failure to furnish written statement, and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 13-220 amended Subsec. (b) to make provisions applicable to issuance or renewal of certificate under Sec. 29-38n, effective July 1, 2013.

See title 2c re termination under "Sunset Law".
See Sec. 4-9a for definition of "public member".
See Sec. 4-38f for definition of "administrative purposes only".
Cited. 193 C. 7.
Cited. 9 CA 169; judgment reversed, see 205 C. 370.

Meets requirements of procedural due process. 36 CS 108. Cited. 39 CS 202. Board's determination as to plaintiff's suitability to possess a permit is subject to great deference. 46 CS 550.

Subsec. (a):
Cited. 209 C. 322.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 209 C. 322.
Cited. 35 CS 28.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 209 C. 322.
Cited. 14 CA 376.
Cited. 35 CS 28.
Subsec. (d):
Cited. 14 CA 376.
Subsec. (e):
Cited. 14 CA 376.
Cited. 42 CS 157.
Subsec. (f):
Cited. 14 CA 376.
Cited. 35 CS 28. Cited. 42 CS 157.

No person, firm or corporation shall sell, deliver or otherwise transfer any pistol or revolver to any person who is prohibited from possessing a pistol or revolver as provided in section 53a-217c.
On and after October 1, 1995, no person may purchase or receive any pistol or revolver unless such person holds a valid permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-28, a valid permit to sell at retail a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to subsection (a) of section 29-28 or a valid eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to section 29-36f or is a federal marshal, parole officer or peace officer.
No person, firm or corporation shall sell, deliver or otherwise transfer any pistol or revolver except upon written application on a form prescribed and furnished by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Such person, firm or corporation shall insure that all questions on the application are answered properly prior to releasing the pistol or revolver and shall retain the application, which shall be attached to the federal sale or transfer document, for at least twenty years or until such vendor goes out of business. Such application shall be available for inspection during normal business hours by law enforcement officials. No sale, delivery or other transfer of any pistol or revolver shall be made unless the person making the purchase or to whom the same is delivered or transferred is personally known to the person selling such pistol or revolver or making delivery or transfer thereof or provides evidence of his identity in the form of a motor vehicle operator's license, identity card issued pursuant to section 1-1h or valid passport. No sale, delivery or other transfer of any pistol or revolver shall be made until the person, firm or corporation making such transfer obtains an authorization number from the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Said commissioner shall perform the national instant criminal background check and make a reasonable effort to determine whether there is any reason that would prohibit such applicant from possessing a pistol or revolver as provided in section 53a-217c. If the commissioner determines the existence of such a reason, the commissioner shall deny the sale and no pistol or revolver shall be sold, delivered or otherwise transferred by such person, firm or corporation to such applicant.
No person, firm or corporation shall sell, deliver or otherwise transfer any pistol or revolver, other than at wholesale, unless such pistol or revolver is equipped with a reusable trigger lock, gun lock or gun locking device appropriate for such pistol or revolver, which lock or device shall be constructed of material sufficiently strong to prevent it from being easily disabled and have a locking mechanism accessible by key or by electronic or other mechanical accessory specific to such lock or device to prevent unauthorized removal. No pistol or revolver shall be loaded or contain therein any gunpowder or other explosive or any bullet, ball or shell when such pistol or revolver is sold, delivered or otherwise transferred.
Upon the sale, delivery or other transfer of any pistol or revolver, the person making the purchase or to whom the same is delivered or transferred shall sign a receipt for such pistol or revolver which shall contain the name and address of such person, the date of sale, the caliber, make, model and manufacturer's number and a general description of such pistol or revolver, the identification number of such person's permit to carry pistols or revolvers, issued pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-28, permit to sell at retail pistols or revolvers, issued pursuant to subsection (a) of said section, or eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver, issued pursuant to section 29-36f, if any, and the authorization number designated for the transfer by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. The person, firm or corporation selling such pistol or revolver or making delivery or transfer thereof shall give one copy of the receipt to the person making the purchase of such pistol or revolver or to whom the same is delivered or transferred, shall retain one copy of the receipt for at least five years, and shall send, by first class mail, or electronically transmit, within forty-eight hours of such sale, delivery or other transfer, one copy of the receipt to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection and one copy of the receipt to the chief of police or, where there is no chief of police, the warden of the borough or the first selectman of the town, as the case may be, of the town in which the transferee resides.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to antique pistols or revolvers. An antique pistol or revolver, for the purposes of this section, means any pistol or revolver which was manufactured in or before 1898 and any replica of such pistol or revolver provided such replica is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition except rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition which is no longer manufactured in the United States and not readily available in the ordinary channel of commercial trade.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to the sale, delivery or transfer of pistols or revolvers between
1. a federally-licensed firearm manufacturer and a federally-licensed firearm dealer,
2. a federally-licensed firearm importer and a federally-licensed firearm dealer, or
3. federally-licensed firearm dealers.
If the court finds that a violation of this section is not of a serious nature and that the person charged with such violation
1. will probably not offend in the future,
2. has not previously been convicted of a violation of this section, and
3. has not previously had a prosecution under this section suspended pursuant to this subsection, the court may order suspension of prosecution. The court shall not order suspension of prosecution unless the accused person has acknowledged that he understands the consequences of the suspension of prosecution. Any person for whom prosecution is suspended shall agree to the tolling of any statute of limitations with respect to such violation and to a waiver of his right to a speedy trial. Such person shall appear in court and shall be released to the custody of the Court Support Services Division for such period, not exceeding two years, and under such conditions as the court shall order. If the person refuses to accept, or, having accepted, violates such conditions, the court shall terminate the suspension of prosecution and the case shall be brought to trial. If such person satisfactorily completes his period of probation, he may apply for dismissal of the charges against him and the court, on finding such satisfactory completion, shall dismiss such charges. If the person does not apply for dismissal of the charges against him after satisfactorily completing his period of probation, the court, upon receipt of a report submitted by the Court Support Services Division that the person satisfactorily completed his period of probation, may on its own motion make a finding of such satisfactory completion and dismiss such charges. Upon dismissal, all records of such charges shall be erased pursuant to section 54-142a. An order of the court denying a motion to dismiss the charges against a person who has completed his period of probation or terminating the participation of a defendant in such program shall be a final judgment for purposes of appeal.
4. Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class C felony for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine, except that any person who sells, delivers or otherwise transfers a pistol or revolver in violation of the provisions of this section knowing that such pistol or revolver is stolen or that the manufacturer's number or other mark of identification on such pistol or revolver has been altered, removed or obliterated, shall be guilty of a class B felony for which three years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and ten thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine, and any pistol or revolver found in the possession of any person in violation of any provision of this section shall be forfeited.

(1949 Rev., S. 4164; February, 1965, P.A. 36; P.A. 75-42; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 82-113; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 1; P.A. 98-129, S. 1; P.A. 99-212, S. 15; P.A. 00-99, S. 136, 154; P.A. 02-132, S. 12; P.A. 13-3, S. 47.)

History: 1965 act made provisions applicable to firms and corporations as well as to persons, required that applications be in triplicate, specifying persons who are to receive copies, required that no sales or deliveries be made until one week after copies mailed, replacing requirement that none be made on date of filing, added provision prohibiting sales and deliveries if applicant has been convicted of a felony, required that purchaser sign receipts in quadruplicate rather than triplicate with two rather than one to go to state police commissioner and added provisions setting forth exceptions to provisions for holders of state permits and various law enforcement officers and for antique weapons; P.A. 75-42 increased period after application during which sales and deliveries are prohibited from one week to two weeks; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of state police with commissioner of public safety, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 82-113 amended the definition of "antique pistol or revolver"; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 substantially revised section including making provisions applicable to all sales, deliveries and transfers, not just those "at retail", dividing Sec. into Subsecs., amending Subsec. (a) to prohibit the sale, delivery or transfer to any person prohibited from possessing a pistol or revolver as provided in Sec. 53a-217c, rather than only to any alien, amending Subsec. (b) to require the transferor to retain the original application for at least 5 years, rather than at least 6 years, prohibit the sale, delivery or transfer unless the transferee is personally known to the transferor or provides evidence of his identity, require the municipal authority or commissioner to make a reasonable effort to determine if there is any reason that would prohibit the applicant from possessing a pistol or revolver and prohibit the sale, delivery or transfer of a pistol or revolver if any such reason exists, rather than only if the applicant has been convicted of a felony, amending Subsec. (d) to require the receipt to contain the identification number of the person's permit to carry, permit to sell or eligibility certificate, if any, and the authorization number for the transfer, require the transferor to retain a copy of the receipt for at least 5 years, rather than at least 6 years, require the transferor to send a copy of the receipt to the chief of police, warden or first selectman of the town where the transfer took place, rather than to the authority issuing the permit for the sale of such pistol or revolver, require the transferor to send copies within 48 hours, rather than within 24 hours, of such sale, delivery or transfer, amending Subsec. (e) to make the waiting period not apply with respect to the holder of a valid permit to sell or eligibility certificate and require the transferor to verify the validity of the permit or certificate, adding Subsec. (g) to make section inapplicable to certain transfers between federally licensed manufacturers, importers or dealers, adding Subsec. (h) to authorize a court to suspend prosecution in certain cases, and adding Subsec. (i) to place penalty provision, formerly in Sec. 29-37(a), in section and increase penalty to a class D felony or, if the pistol or revolver is stolen or has an altered identification number, a class B felony; P.A. 98-129 amended Subsec. (c) to delete provision requiring that when a pistol or revolver is sold, delivered or transferred it be enclosed in a package with the paper or wrapping securely fastened and to add provision prohibiting the sale, delivery or other transfer of a pistol or revolver, other than at wholesale, unless such pistol or revolver is equipped with a reusable trigger lock, gun lock or gun locking device and specifying criteria for the materials and locking mechanism of such lock or device; P.A. 99-212 added new Subsec. (b) re prohibition on purchase or receipt of pistol or revolver without having a valid permit or eligibility certificate or being a federal marshal, sheriff, parole officer or peace officer, formerly Sec. 29-36j(a), redesignating former Subsecs. (b), (c) and (d) as Subsecs. (c), (d) and (e), respectively, amended Subsec. (c) to replace provision requiring seller or transferor to send one copy of the application to the police chief, first selectman or warden in municipality where applicant resides and one copy to the Commissioner of Public Safety and retain the application for at least 5 years with provision requiring seller or transferor to attach the application to the federal sale or transfer document and retain it for at least 20 years or until the vendor goes out of business, to add provision requiring seller or transferor to insure all questions on the application are answered properly and to make application available for inspection during normal business hours by law enforcement officials, to replace prohibition on transfer of pistol or revolver until the expiration of two weeks from the mailing of the copies of the application with prohibition on transfer until the transferor obtains an authorization number, to delete the role of "the chief of the police department of the municipality within which the applicant resides or, where there is no chief of police, the first selectman or warden of such municipality, as the case may be," in determining whether there is a reason that would prohibit the applicant possessing a pistol or revolver and in notifying the seller or transferor of any such reason, to require the commissioner to perform the national instant criminal background check and to require the commissioner to deny the sale rather than forthwith notify the person, firm or corporation to whom such application was made if a reason exists that would prohibit the applicant possessing the pistol or revolver, amended Subsec. (e) to delete the requirement that the receipt contain the occupation of the transferee, to authorize the transferor to electronically transmit a copy of the receipt to the commissioner and the police chief, warden or first selectman and to require one copy of the receipt be sent to the police chief, warden or first selectman of the town "in which the transferee resides" rather than the town "in which the sale, delivery or other transfer took place" and deleted former Subsec. (e) re persons to whom the waiting period did not apply; P.A. 00-99 deleted reference to sheriff in Subsec. (b), effective December 1, 2000; P.A. 02-132 amended Subsec. (h) by replacing "Office of Adult Probation" with "Court Support Services Division"; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, "Commissioner of Public Safety" and "Department of Public Safety" were changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection" and "Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection", respectively, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-3 made a technical change in Subsec. (h) and amended Subsec. (i) to change penalty for violation of section from a class D felony to a class C felony for which 2 years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced and $5,000 of the fine may not be remitted or reduced unless court states its reasons on the record, and to provide that existing class B felony for sale, delivery or other transfer of a pistol or revolver knowing it is stolen or altered be subject to sentence of 3 years which may not be suspended or reduced and $10,000 fine which may not be remitted or reduced unless court states its reasons on the record.

Cited. 193 C. 7.
Cited. 9 CA 169; judgment reversed, see 205 C. 370.

No person shall make any false statement or give any false information connected with any purchase, sale, delivery or other transfer of any pistol or revolver. Any person violating any provision of this subsection shall be guilty of a class C felony for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine.
No person shall sell, barter, hire, lend, give, deliver or otherwise transfer to any person under the age of twenty-one years any pistol or revolver, except that a pistol or revolver may be temporarily transferred to any person only for the use by such person in target shooting or on a firing or shooting range, provided such use is otherwise permitted by law and is under the immediate supervision of a person eligible to possess a pistol or revolver. Any person violating any provision of this subsection shall be guilty of a class C felony for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine.
Any pistol or revolver found in the possession of any person in violation of any provision of this section shall be forfeited.

(1949 Rev., S. 4165; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 2; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2, S. 12; P.A. 99-212, S. 5; P.A. 13-3, S. 48.)

History: July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 made the provisions of the section applicable to any "other transfer" of a pistol or revolver and to persons who "otherwise transfer" a pistol or revolver, increased the minimum age of a person to whom a pistol or revolver may be transferred from 18 to 21 years of age, and added exception re the temporary transfer of a pistol or revolver to any person for use in target shooting or on a firing or shooting range and under certain conditions; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2 designated existing provisions re making a false statement or giving false information as Subsec. (a) and amended said Subsec. to add penalty provisions formerly located in Sec. 29-37(a), designated existing provisions re prohibiting the sale, delivery or transfer of any pistol or revolver to a person under the age of 21 years as Subsec. (b) and amended said Subsec. to add provision that a violation thereof is a class D felony with a 1-year nonsuspendable sentence and added Subsec. (c) re forfeiture of a pistol or revolver, formerly located in Sec. 29-37(a); P.A. 99-212 amended Subsec. (a) to increase the penalty to a class D felony, replacing penalty of a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment of not more than 3 years or both; P.A. 13-3 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to change penalty from a class D felony to a class C felony for which 2 years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced and $5,000 of the fine may not be remitted or reduced unless the court states its reasons on the record.

No person shall carry any pistol or revolver upon his or her person, except when such person is within the dwelling house or place of business of such person, without a permit to carry the same issued as provided in section 29-28. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the carrying of any pistol or revolver by any parole officer or peace officer of this state, or parole officer or peace officer of any other state while engaged in the pursuit of official duties, or federal marshal or federal law enforcement agent, or to any member of the armed forces of the United States, as defined in section 27-103, or of the state, as defined in section 27-2, when on duty or going to or from duty, or to any member of any military organization when on parade or when going to or from any place of assembly, or to the transportation of pistols or revolvers as merchandise, or to any person transporting any pistol or revolver while contained in the package in which it was originally wrapped at the time of sale and while transporting the same from the place of sale to the purchaser's residence or place of business, or to any person removing such person's household goods or effects from one place to another, or to any person while transporting any such pistol or revolver from such person's place of residence or business to a place or individual where or by whom such pistol or revolver is to be repaired or while returning to such person's place of residence or business after the same has been repaired, or to any person transporting a pistol or revolver in or through the state for the purpose of taking part in competitions, taking part in formal pistol or revolver training, repairing such pistol or revolver or attending any meeting or exhibition of an organized collectors' group if such person is a bona fide resident of the United States and is permitted to possess and carry a pistol or revolver in the state or subdivision of the United States in which such person resides, or to any person transporting a pistol or revolver to and from a testing range at the request of the issuing authority, or to any person transporting an antique pistol or revolver, as defined in section 29-33. For the purposes of this subsection, "formal pistol or revolver training" means pistol or revolver training at a locally approved or permitted firing range or training facility, and "transporting a pistol or revolver" means transporting a pistol or revolver that is unloaded and, if such pistol or revolver is being transported in a motor vehicle, is not readily accessible or directly accessible from the passenger compartment of the vehicle or, if such pistol or revolver is being transported in a motor vehicle that does not have a compartment separate from the passenger compartment, such pistol or revolver shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the carrying of a pistol or revolver during formal pistol or revolver training or repair.
The holder of a permit issued pursuant to section 29-28, as amended by this act, shall carry such permit upon one's person while carrying such pistol or revolver. Such holder shall present his or her permit upon the request of a law enforcement officer who has reasonable suspicion of a crime for purposes of verification of the validity of the permit or identification of the holder, provided such holder is carrying a pistol or revolver that is observed by such law enforcement officer.

(1949 Rev., S. 4166; 1957, P.A. 163, S. 35; 1959, P.A. 179; 1963, P.A. 437; P.A. 81-45; 81-222, S. 2; P.A. 88-128, S. 1; P.A. 99-212, S. 2; P.A. 00-99, S. 77, 154; P.A. 01-130, S. 9; P.A. 03-19, S. 68. ; 2015, P.A. 15-216, S.2;)

History: 1959 act exempted parole officers from provisions of section; 1963 act exempted persons en route to or at competitions, meetings, exhibitions etc. from provisions of section if persons are U.S. residents and have permits from other states; P.A. 81-45 clarified exemption for sheriffs, parole officers or peace officers by specifying those of this state, or of any other state while engaged in the pursuit of official duties, and added exemption for federal marshal or federal law enforcement agent; P.A. 81-222 provided an exemption for any person carrying a pistol or revolver to and from a testing range at the request of the issuing authority or carrying an antique pistol or revolver; P.A. 88-128 added Subsec. (b) to require a permit holder to carry his permit while carrying his pistol or revolver; P.A. 99-212 replaced "carrying" with "transporting" in list of exceptions other than in exceptions for sheriffs, parole officers, peace officers, federal marshals, federal law enforcement agents, members of the armed forces and members of any military organization, added exception for transporting a pistol or revolver in or through the state for the purpose of "taking part in formal pistol or revolver training" or "repairing such pistol or revolver", revised exception re out-of-state resident by replacing condition that such person have "a permit or license to carry any firearm issued by the authority of any other state or subdivision of the United States" with condition that such person "is permitted to possess and carry a pistol or revolver in the state or subdivision of the United States in which such person resides", added definitions of "formal pistol or revolver training" and "transporting a pistol or revolver" and made provisions of section gender neutral; P.A. 00-99 deleted references to sheriff in Subsec. (a), effective December 1, 2000; P.A. 01-130 amended definition of "transporting a pistol or revolver" in Subsec. (a) re providing for a locked container if motor vehicle does not have compartment separate from passenger compartment; P.A. 03-19 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), effective May 12, 2003. Amended 2016 Public Act 16-193 § 9

Seizure of loaded revolver from defendant's person and arrest under this section by police lieutenant on information by reliable person that defendant was armed is justifiable action. 157 C. 114. Cited. 162 C. 3. Cited. 168 C. 395. State must introduce evidence that pistol which defendant was carrying was less than twelve inches in length in order to prove that defendant has violated this section. 173 C. 254. Cited. 179 C. 576. Burden not on state to disprove every listed exception in statute. 181 C. 388. Cited. 182 C. 262. Cited. 186 C. 261; Id., 654. Cited 189 C. 303. Cited. 190 C. 1. Cited. 192 C. 85. Cited 193 C. 7. Cited. 195 C. 651. Cited. 196 C. 122; Id., 157. Cited. 207 C. 191. Cited. 208 C. 689. Cited. 209 C. 322. Cited. 211 C. 258. Cited. 214 C. 540. Cited. 215 C. 739. Cited. 217 C. 73. Cited. 220 C. 385. Cited. 221 C. 315; Id., 915. Cited. 222 C. 718. Cited. 225 C. 270. Cited. 227 C. 518. Cited. 228 C. 234. Cited. 229 C. 125. Cited. 231 C. 43. Cited. 233 C. 1; Id., 215; Id., 813. Cited. 234 C. 324. Cited. 235 C. 274; Id., 397; Id., 595. Cited. 240 C. 395. Cited. 242 C. 318.

Cited. 3 CA 225; Id., 289. Cited. 6 CA 189; Id., 402. Cited. 7 CA 367. Cited. 8 CA 667. Cited. 9 CA 169; judgment reversed, see 205 C. 370; Id., 330. Cited. 10 CA 532; Id., 683; Id., 697. Cited. 12 CA 662. Cited. 13 CA 139. Cited. 14 CA 140. Cited. 15 CA 330; Id., 749. Cited. 17 CA 243. Cited. 19 CA 576. Cited. 22 CA 507. Cited. 24 CA 408; Id., 685; Id., 692; Id., 737. Cited. 25 CA 433; Id., 578; Id., 734. Cited 26 CA 65; Id., 367. Cited. 27 CA 263; Id., 403. Cited. 28 CA 833; judgment reversed, see 227 C. 518. Cited. 30 CA 26; Id., 68. Cited. 31 CA 385; Id., 614. Cited. 32 CA 724. Cited. 34 CA 103; Id., 223. Cited. 35 CA 541. Cited. 36 CA 345; Id., 483; Id., 576; Id., 805; Id., 831. Cited. 37 CA 276. Cited. 38 CA 247. Cited. 39 CA 82; Id., 224; Id., 242; Id., 563. Cited. 40 CA 60; Id., 151; Id., 189. Cited. 41 CA 515; Id., 565; Id., 831. Cited. 42 CA 41. Cited. 43 CA 252. Cited. 44 CA 790. Cited. 45 CA 261; Id., 282. Cited. 46 CA 640. Evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support conviction of carrying pistol without a license because state did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that gun barrel was less than twelve inches in length. 48 CA 193.

Cited. 27 CS 275. Cited. 35 CS 516.

Subsec. (a):
Cited. 224 C. 546. Cited. 237 C. 518. "Place of business" means premises containing a business in which a person has a proprietary, controlling or possessory interest not a location at which a person is merely employed. 260 C. 219. Place of business" exception to handgun permit requirement inapplicable to taxicab. 270 C. 198.

Cited. 20 CA 137. Cited. 22 CA 321. Cited. 26 CA 242. Cited. 33 CA 521. Cited. 35 CA 138. Cited. 38 CA 750. Cited. 42 CA 768. Cited. 45 CA 591. Cited. 46 CA 216. Cumulative evidence established beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant's firearm had a barrel less than twelve inches long. 69 CA 1. Jury instructions that improperly included an explanation of the principles of constructive possession did not violate defendant's due process rights where such instructions had no probable effect on the jury. 71 CA 656. Court upheld prior rulings that convictions under both this subsec. and Sec. 53a-217(a)(1) do not constitute double jeopardy. 83 CA 377.

No person shall remove, deface, alter or obliterate the name of any maker or model or any maker's number, unique serial number or other mark of identification on any firearm as defined in section 53a-3. The possession of any firearm upon which any identifying mark, number or name has been removed, defaced, altered or obliterated shall be prima facie evidence that the person owning or in possession of such firearm has removed, defaced, altered or obliterated the same.
Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class C felony for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine, and any firearm found in the possession of any person in violation of said provision shall be forfeited.

(1949 Rev., S. 4167; P.A. 97-56, S. 1; P.A. 13-3, S. 49.)

History: P.A. 97-56 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a), amended said Subsec. (a) to replace "pistol or revolver" with "firearm" and include defacing an identifying mark, number or name as a prohibited act and added Subsec. (b) re the penalty for a violation, revising the penalty formerly located in Sec. 29-37(a) to include all firearms; P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (b) to change penalty from fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment of not more than 5 years to a class C felony for which 2 years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced and $5,000 of the fine may not be remitted or reduced unless the court states its reasons on the record.

Any person who is twenty-one years of age or older may apply to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection for an eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver.
The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall issue an eligibility certificate unless said commissioner finds that the applicant:
1. Has failed to successfully complete a course approved by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection in the safety and use of pistols and revolvers including, but not limited to, a safety or training course in the use of pistols and revolvers available to the public offered by a law enforcement agency, a private or public educational institution or a firearms training school, utilizing instructors certified by the National Rifle Association or the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and a safety or training course in the use of pistols or revolvers conducted by an instructor certified by the state or the National Rifle Association;
2. has been convicted of a felony or of a violation of section 21a-279, as amended by this act, or section 53a-58, 53a-61, 53a-61a, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-96, 53a-175, 53a-176, 53a-178 or 53a-181d;
3. has been convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense, as defined in section 46b-120;
4. has been discharged from custody within the preceding twenty years after having been found not guilty of a crime by reason of mental disease or defect pursuant to section 53a-13;
5. 1. has been confined in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding sixty months by order of a probate court; or
  2. has been voluntarily admitted on or after October 1, 2013, to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding six months for care and treatment of a psychiatric disability and not solely for being an alcohol-dependent person or a drug-dependent person as those terms are defined in section 17a-680;
6. is subject to a restraining or protective order issued by a court in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, including an ex parte order issued pursuant to section 46b-15, as amended by this act, or section 46b-16a, as amended by this act;
7. is subject to a firearms seizure order issued pursuant to subsection (d) of section 29-38c after notice and hearing;
8. is prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922(g)(4); or
9. is an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States.

(July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 7; P.A. 98-129, S. 14; P.A. 99-212, S. 20; P.A. 05-283, S. 5; P.A. 13-3, S. 58; 2015, P.A. 15-2, S.4; 2016 Public Act 16-34 § 9)

History: P.A. 98-129 added new Subsec. (b)(3) prohibiting the issuance of an eligibility certificate to an applicant who has been convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense, renumbering the remaining Subdivs. accordingly, and replacing in Subdiv. (5) "hospital for mental illness" with "hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities"; P.A. 99-212 added new Subsec. (b)(7) prohibiting the issuance of an eligibility certificate to an applicant who is subject to a firearms seizure order issued pursuant to Sec. 29-38c(d) after notice and hearing, renumbering remaining Subdiv. accordingly, and made provisions gender neutral; P.A. 05-283 added new Subsec. (b)(8) prohibiting the issuance of an eligibility certificate to an applicant who is prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922 (g)(4), and redesignated existing Subdiv. (8) as Subdiv. (9); pursuant to P.A. 11-51, "Commissioner of Public Safety" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection", effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, "Department of Environmental Protection" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Department of Energy and Environmental Protection" in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (b)(5) to designate existing provisions as Subpara. (A) and amend same by replacing "twelve months" with "sixty months" re hospital confinement by probate court order, and to add Subpara. (B) re voluntary admission.

Requests for eligibility certificates under section 29-36f shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection on application forms prescribed by the commissioner. No eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver shall be issued under the provisions of said section unless the applicant for such certificate gives to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, upon the commissioner's request, full information concerning the applicant's criminal record and relevant information concerning the applicant's mental health history. The commissioner shall require each applicant to submit to state and national criminal history records checks. The commissioner shall take a full description of such applicant. The commissioner shall take the fingerprints of such applicant or conduct any other method of positive identification required by the State Police Bureau of Identification or the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The commissioner shall record the date the fingerprints were taken in the applicant's file and shall conduct criminal history records checks in accordance with section 29-17a. The commissioner shall, within sixty days of receipt of the national criminal history records check from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, either approve the application and issue the eligibility certificate or deny the application and notify the applicant of the reason for such denial in writing.
1. With respect to any application for an eligibility certificate filed with the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection on or before July 1, 1995, the commissioner shall, not later than October 1, 1995,
  1. approve the application and issue the eligibility certificate,
  2. issue a temporary eligibility certificate, or
  3. deny the application and notify the applicant of the reason for such denial in writing.
2. With respect to any application for an eligibility certificate filed with the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection after July 1, 1995, the commissioner shall, within ninety days,
  1. approve the application and issue the eligibility certificate,
  2. issue a temporary eligibility certificate, or
  3. deny the application and notify the applicant of the reason for such denial in writing.
3. A temporary certificate issued under this subsection shall be valid until such time as the commissioner either approves or denies the application.
An eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver shall be of such form and content as the commissioner may prescribe, shall be signed by the certificate holder and shall contain an identification number, the name, address, place and date of birth, height, weight and eye color of the certificate holder and a full-face photograph of the certificate holder.
A person holding an eligibility certificate issued by the commissioner shall notify the commissioner within two business days of any change of his address. The notification shall include his old address and his new address.
Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1-210 and 1-211, the name and address of a person issued an eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver under the provisions of section 29-36f, as amended by this act, shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed, except
1. such information may be disclosed to law enforcement officials acting in the performance of their duties, including, but not limited to, employees of the United States Probation Office acting in the performance of their duties and parole officers within the Department of Correction acting in the performance of their duties,
2. the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection may disclose such information to the extent necessary to comply with a request made pursuant to section 29-33, 29-37a or 29-38m for verification that such certificate 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 to carry out the provisions of subsection (c) of section 17a-500, as amended by this act.
An eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver shall not authorize the holder thereof to carry a pistol or revolver upon his person in circumstances for which a permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-28 is required under section 29-35.

(July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 8; P.A. 98-129, S. 7; P.A. 01-175, S. 23, 32; P.A. 07-217, S. 133; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; P.A. 12-177, S. 2; P.A. 13-3, S. 51; 2015, P.A. 15.216, S.4.)

History: P.A. 98-129 added Subsec. (e)(3) authorizing the disclosure of such information to the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to carry out the provisions of Sec. 17a-500(c); P.A. 01-175 amended Subsec. (a) by making technical changes and adding provisions re fingerprinting and state and national criminal history records checks in accordance with Sec. 29-17a, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 07-217 made technical changes in Subsec. (b), effective July 12, 2007; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, "Commissioner of Public Safety" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection", effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-177 amended Subsec. (e)(1) to permit disclosure of information to employees of the U.S. Probation Office acting in performance of their duties; P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (e)(2) to add reference to request made pursuant to Sec. 29-37a or 29-38m, effective July 1, 2013.

The fee for each eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver originally issued under the provisions of section 29-36f shall be thirty-five dollars and for each renewal thereof thirty-five dollars, which fees shall be paid to the Commissioner of Public Safety. Upon deposit of such fees in the General Fund, the fees shall be credited to the appropriation to the Department of Public Safety to a separate nonlapsing account for the purposes of the issuance of eligibility certificates under said section.
An eligibility certificate originally issued under the provisions of section 29-36f, shall expire five years after the date it becomes effective and each renewal thereof shall expire five years after the expiration date of the certificate being renewed.
The renewal fee shall apply for each renewal which is requested not earlier than thirty-one days before, and not later than thirty-one days after, the expiration date of the certificate being renewed.
No fee or portion thereof paid under the provisions of this section for issuance or renewal of an eligibility certificate shall be refundable except if the eligibility certificate for which the fee or portion thereof was paid was not issued or renewed.
The Commissioner of Public Safety shall send a notice of the expiration of an eligibility certificate issued pursuant to section 29-36f, to the holder of such certificate, by first class mail, at the address of such person as shown by the records of the commissioner, not less than ninety days before such expiration, and shall enclose therein a form for the renewal of said certificate. An eligibility certificate issued pursuant to said section, shall be valid for a period of ninety days from the expiration date, except this provision shall not apply to any certificate which has been revoked or for which revocation is pending, pursuant to section 29-36i.

(July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 9.)

Any eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver shall be revoked by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection upon the occurrence of any event which would have disqualified the holder from being issued the certificate pursuant to section 29-36f, as amended by this act.
Upon the revocation of any eligibility certificate, the person whose eligibility certificate is revoked shall be notified in writing and such certificate shall be forthwith delivered to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Any person who fails to surrender such certificate within five days of notification in writing of revocation thereof shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
If an eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver is revoked because the person holding such certificate is subject to an ex parte order issued pursuant to section 46b-15, as amended by this act, or 46b-16a, as amended by this act, upon expiration of such order, such person may notify the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection that such order has expired. Upon verification of such expiration and provided such person is not otherwise disqualified from holding such certificate pursuant to section 29-36f, as amended by this act, the department shall reinstate such certificate.

(July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 10; P.A. 13-3, S. 52; 2016 Public Act 16-34 § 12)

History: Pursuant to P.A. 11-51, "Commissioner of Public Safety" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection", effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (b) to change penalty for failure to surrender certificate from a class C misdemeanor to a class A misdemeanor.

Any person who purchases a firearm, as defined in section 53a-3, pursuant to section 29-33 or 29-37a with the intent to transfer such firearm to any other person who the transferor knows or has reason to believe is prohibited from purchasing or otherwise receiving such a firearm pursuant to section 29-33 or 29-37a shall be guilty of a class C felony for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine.
Any person prohibited from purchasing or otherwise receiving or possessing a firearm and who solicits, employs or assists any person in violating the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a class D felony for which one year of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and three thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine, except that if such person who is prohibited from purchasing or otherwise receiving or possessing a firearm obtains a firearm pursuant to a violation of subsection (a) of this section, such person shall be guilty of a class C felony for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine. Each transfer shall constitute a separate offense.
Any person convicted of violating the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section and who was convicted of a felony within the prior five-year period shall be guilty of a class B felony for which three years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and ten thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine.

(P.A. 93-306, S. 13; P.A. 13-3, S. 53.)

History: P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (a) to change penalty from fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment of not more than 5 years to a class C felony for which 2 years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced and $5,000 of the fine may not be remitted or reduced unless the court states its reasons on the record, amended Subsec. (b) to change penalty for person who solicits, employs or assists violation of Subsec. (a) from a class B misdemeanor to a class D felony for which 1 year of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced and $3,000 of the fine may not be remitted or reduced unless the court states its reasons on the record, and to change penalty for person prohibited from purchasing or receiving or possessing firearm who obtains firearm pursuant to violation of Subsec. (a) from a class A misdemeanor for violation involving transfer of more than one firearm to a class C felony for which 2 years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced and $5,000 of the fine may not be remitted or reduced unless the court states its reasons on the record, and amended Subsec. (c) to change penalty from a class D felony to a class B felony for which 3 years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced and $10,000 of the fine may not be remitted or reduced unless the court states its reasons on the record.

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, not later than two business days after the occurrence of any event that makes a person ineligible to possess a pistol or revolver or other firearm or ammunition, such person shall
1. transfer in accordance with section 29-33 all pistols and revolvers which such person then possesses to any person eligible to possess a pistol or revolver and transfer in accordance with any applicable state and federal laws all other firearms to any person eligible to possess such other firearms by obtaining an authorization number for the sale or transfer of the firearm from the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, and submit a sale or transfer of firearms form to said commissioner within two business days, or
2. deliver or surrender such pistols and revolvers and other firearms and ammunition to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, provided a local police department may accept such pistols, revolvers, other firearms and ammunition on behalf of said commissioner, or
3. transfer such ammunition to any person eligible to possess such ammunition. The commissioner and a local police department shall exercise due care in the receipt and holding of such pistols and revolvers and other firearms or ammunition.
Immediately, but in no event more than twenty-four hours after notice has been provided to a person subject to a restraining or protective order or a foreign order of protection, such person shall (1) transfer any pistol, revolver or other firearm or ammunition which such person then possesses to a federally licensed firearms dealer pursuant to the sale of the pistol, revolver or other firearm or ammunition to the federally licensed firearms dealer, or (2) deliver or surrender such pistols and revolvers and other firearms and ammunition to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, provided a local police department may accept such pistols, revolvers, other firearms and ammunition on behalf of said commissioner. For the purposes of this section, a "person subject to a restraining or protective order or a foreign order of protection" means a person who knows that such person is subject to (A) a restraining or protective order of a court of this state that has been issued against such person, after notice has been provided to such person, in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, or (B) a foreign order of protection, as defined in section 46b-15a, that has been issued against such person in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person.
1. A person subject to a restraining order or protective order or a foreign order of protection or an order of protection issued under section 46b-16a, as amended by this act, who has delivered or surrendered any pistol, revolver, or other firearm or ammunition to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection or a local police department, may request the return of such pistol, revolver, or other firearm or ammunition, upon (A) the expiration of the restraining order or protective order or a foreign order of protection or an order of protection issued under section 46b-16a, as amended by this act, or (B) the issuance of a subsequent court order that rescinds the restraining order or protective order or a foreign order of protection or an order of protection issued under section 46b-16a, as amended by this act.
2. When making such request, the person described in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall provide notification of (A) the expiration of the restraining order or protective order or a foreign order of protection or an order of protection issued under section 46b-16a, as amended by this act, or (B) the issuance of a subsequent court order that rescinds the restraining order or protective order or a foreign order of protection or an order of protection issued under section 46b-16a, as amended by this act, to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection or a local police department.
3. Not later than five business days after the date on which a person has made a request pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, the commissioner or a local police department shall review the request and make available for retrieval any pistol, revolver, or other firearm or ammunition to such person provided the commissioner or a local police department confirms:
  1. 1. The expiration of the restraining order or protective order or a foreign order of protection or an order of protection issued under section 46b-16a, as amended by this act, or
    2. the issuance of a subsequent court order that rescinds the restraining order or protective order or a foreign order of protection or an order of protection issued under section 46b-16a, as amended by this act,
  2. that such person is not otherwise disqualified from possessing such pistol, revolver, or other firearm or ammunition, and
  3. that such person was legally entitled to possess such pistol, revolver, or other firearm or ammunition at the time of delivery or surrender to the commissioner or a local police department.
Such person, or such person's legal representative, may, at any time up to one year after such delivery or surrender, transfer such pistols and revolvers in accordance with the provisions of section 29-33 to any person eligible to possess a pistol or revolver and transfer such other firearms and ammunition, in accordance with any applicable state and federal laws, to any person eligible to possess such other firearms and ammunition, provided any person subject to a restraining or protective order or a foreign order of protection, or such person's legal representative, may only transfer such pistol, revolver or other firearm or ammunition to a federally licensed firearms dealer pursuant to the sale of the pistol, revolver or other firearm or ammunition to the federally licensed firearms dealer. Upon notification in writing by the transferee and such person, the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection or a local police department as the case may be, shall, within ten days, deliver such pistols and revolvers or other firearms or ammunition to the transferee. If, at the end of such year, such pistols and revolvers and other firearms and ammunition have not been so transferred, the commissioner or a local police department as the case may be, shall cause them to be destroyed.
Any person who fails to transfer, deliver or surrender any such pistols and revolvers and other firearms or ammunition as provided in this section shall be subject to the penalty provided for in section 53a-217, as amended by this act, or 53a-217c, as amended by this act.

(July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 13; P.A. 02-120, S. 6; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; 11-152, S. 9; P.A. 13-3, S. 34; 13-214, S. 17.)

History: P.A. 02-120 amended Subsec. (a) to make provisions applicable to a person ineligible to possess a firearm other than a pistol or revolver, adding in Subdiv. (1) the requirement that such person transfer in accordance with state and federal laws such other firearms to any person eligible to possess such other firearms by obtaining an authorization number from the Commissioner of Public Safety and submit a sale or transfer of firearms form to the commissioner within two business days and including in Subdiv. (2) the delivery or surrender of "other firearms", amended Subsec. (b) to make provisions applicable to "other firearms", to authorize the transfer of such other firearms in accordance with applicable state and federal laws to any person eligible to possess such other firearms and to make a technical change for purposes of gender neutrality and amended Subsec. (c) to make provisions applicable to the failure to transfer or surrender "other firearms" and to add reference to penalty in Sec. 53a-217, effective June 7, 2002; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, "Commissioner of Public Safety" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection", effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-152 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to add provisions re a person described in Sec. 53a-217(a)(3), define same and make technical changes, and amended Subsec. (c) to add "deliver"; P.A. 13-3 made provisions re ineligibility to possess firearms and transfer, delivery or surrender of firearms applicable to ammunition and made technical changes; P.A. 13-214 replaced references to person described in Sec. 53a-217(a)(3) with references to "person subject to a restraining or protective order or a foreign order of protection" and defined same. 2016 Public Act 16-34 § 7

State database. Instant criminal background check. Immunity of seller or transferor. Authorization number required.

The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall establish a state database that any person, firm or corporation who sells or otherwise transfers firearms may access, by telephone or other electronic means in addition to the telephone, for information to be supplied immediately, on whether a permit to carry a pistol or revolver, issued pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-28, a permit to sell at retail a pistol or revolver, issued pursuant to subsection (a) of section 29-28, an eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver, issued pursuant to section 29-36f, or a long gun eligibility certificate, issued pursuant to section 29-37p, is valid and has not been revoked or suspended.
Upon establishment of the database, the commissioner shall notify each person, firm or corporation holding a permit to sell at retail pistols or revolvers issued pursuant to subsection (a) of section 29-28 of the existence and purpose of the system and the means to be used to access the database.
The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall establish days and hours during which the telephone number or other electronic means shall be operational for purposes of responding to inquiries, taking into consideration the normal business hours of retail firearm businesses.
1. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall be the point of contact for initiating a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), established under section 103 of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, on individuals purchasing firearms.
2. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Judicial Department shall, in accordance with state and federal law regarding confidentiality, enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of implementing the National Instant Criminal Background Check System in the state. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall report the name, date of birth and physical description of any person prohibited from possessing a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922(g) or (n) to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System Index, Denied Persons Files.
Any person, firm or corporation that contacts the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to access the database established under this section and determine if a person is eligible to receive or possess a firearm shall not be held civilly liable for the sale or transfer of a firearm to a person whose receipt or possession of such firearm is unlawful or for refusing to sell or transfer a firearm to a person who may lawfully receive or possess such firearm if such person, firm or corporation relied, in good faith, on the information provided to such person, firm or corporation by said department, unless the conduct of such person, firm or corporation was unreasonable or reckless.
Any person, firm or corporation that sells, delivers or otherwise transfers any firearm pursuant to section 29-33 or 29-37a, shall contact the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to access the database established under this section and receive an authorization number for such sale, delivery or transfer. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to:
1. any sale, delivery or transfer of an antique firearm manufactured in or before 1898, including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap or similar type of ignition system manufactured in or before 1898;
2. any sale, delivery or transfer of any replica of any firearm described in subdivision (1) of this subsection if such replica uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition which is no longer manufactured in the United States and which is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade;
3. transactions between persons who are licensed as firearms importers or collectors, manufacturers or dealers pursuant to 18 USC 921 et seq.;
4. the transfer of firearms to and from gunsmiths for purposes of repair only; and
5. any sale, delivery or transfer of any firearm to any agency of the United States, the state of Connecticut or any local government.

(July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 16; P.A. 99-212, S. 7; P.A. 05-283, S. 1; P.A. 11-51, S. 169; P.A. 13-3, S. 7.)

History: P.A. 99-212 added Subsec. (c) re establishment of days and hours during which the telephone number or other electronic means shall be operational to respond to inquiries, added Subsec. (d) re designation of the Department of Public Safety as the point of contact for initiating background checks through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, added Subsec. (e) re immunity of sellers and transferors who contact the Department of Public Safety to access the database and rely in good faith on the information provided and added Subsec. (f) re requirement that sellers and transferors contact the department to access the database and receive an authorization number and re exempt transactions; P.A. 05-283 amended Subsec. (d) to designate existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and to add Subdiv. (2) re memorandum of understanding with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for purpose of implementing the National Instant Criminal Background Check System; P.A. 11-51 replaced references to Commissioner and Department of Public Safety with references to Commissioner and Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and made a technical change, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that database may be accessed by seller or transferor of "firearms" rather than of "pistols or revolvers" and be used to determine validity of long gun eligibility certificate issued pursuant to Sec. 29-37p, effective July 1, 2013.

The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to carry out the provisions of sections 18-81i, 29-27 and 29-28, subsection (a) of section 29-30, section 29-32, subsection (b) of section 29-32b, sections 29-33, 29-34 and 29-36f to 29-36l, inclusive, subsection (a) of section 29-37, subsections (a) and (b) of section 53-202d and section 53a-217c.

(July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 17; P.A. 11-51, S. 134.)

The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in conjunction with the Chief State's Attorney and the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, shall develop a protocol to ensure that persons who become ineligible to possess a pistol or revolver or other firearm or ammunition have, in accordance with section 29-36k, transferred such pistol or revolver or other firearm or ammunition to a person eligible to possess such pistol or revolver or other firearm or ammunition or have delivered or surrendered such pistol or revolver or other firearm or ammunition to said commissioner. Such protocol shall include provisions to ensure that a person who becomes ineligible to possess a pistol or revolver or other firearm because such person is subject to a restraining or protective order or a foreign order of protection, as defined in section 29-36k, transfers such pistol or revolver or other firearm, or delivers or surrenders such pistol or revolver or other firearm, pursuant to arrangements made with an organized local police department or the Division of State Police in advance of such transfer, delivery or surrender.
The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in conjunction with the Chief State's Attorney and the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, shall update the protocol developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to reflect the provisions of sections 29-7h, 29-28, as amended by this act, 29-28a, 29-29, 29-30, 29-32, as amended by this act, and 29-35, subsections (b) and (h) of section 46b-15, as amended by this act, subsections (c) and (d) of section 46b-38c and sections 53-202a, 53-202l, 53-202m and 53a-217, as amended by this act, and shall include in such protocol specific instructions for the transfer, delivery or surrender of pistols and revolvers and other firearms and ammunition when the assistance of more than one law enforcement agency is necessary to effect the requirements of section 29-36k, as amended by this act.

(P.A. 99-212, S. 10; P.A. 01-130, S. 14; P.A. 02-120, S. 2; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; 11-152, S. 10; P.A. 13-3, S. 35; 13-214, S. 18.)

Any person violating any provision of section 29-28 or 29-31 shall be guilty of a class E felony, and any pistol or revolver found in the possession of any person in violation of any of said provisions shall be forfeited.
Any person violating any provision of subsection (a) of section 29-35 shall be guilty of a class D felony, and, in the absence of any mitigating circumstances as determined by the court, one year of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court. The court shall specifically state the mitigating circumstances, or the absence thereof, in writing for the record. Any pistol or revolver found in the possession of any person in violation of any provision of subsection (a) of section 29-35 shall be forfeited.
Any person violating any provision of subsection (b) of section 29-35 shall have committed an infraction and shall be fined thirty-five dollars.

(1949 Rev., S. 4168; P.A. 81-222, S. 3; P.A. 88-128, S. 2; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 15; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2, S. 13; P.A. 97-56, S. 2; P.A. 07-217, S. 134; P.A. 13-258, S. 25.)

History: P.A. 81-222 added Subsec. (b) establishing a mandatory one-year prison sentence for any person violating Sec. 29-35 unless the court finds mitigating circumstances, and requiring the court to state the mitigating circumstances or absence thereof in writing; P.A. 88-128 added Subsec. (c) to provide a penalty for any person violating Sec. 29-35(b); July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to Sec. 29-33 because that same public act added revised penalty provisions for violations of Sec. 29-33 within that section itself; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to Sec. 29-34 because that same public act added penalty provisions for violations of Sec. 29-34 within that section itself; P.A. 97-56 amended Subsec. (a) to delete penalty provision for a violation of Sec. 29-36 because that same public act added penalty provision for violations of that section to Sec. 29-36 itself; P.A. 07-217 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective July 12, 2007; P.A. 13-258 amended Subsec. (a) to change penalty from a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment of not more than 3 years to a class E felony, and amended Subsec. (b) to change penalty from a fine of not more than $1,000 and imprisonment of not less than 1 year or more than 5 years to a class D felony. Amended 2016 Public Act 16-34 § 17

For the purposes of this section, "long gun" means a firearm, as defined in section 53a-3, other than a pistol or revolver.
1. Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, no person, firm or corporation may sell, deliver or otherwise transfer, at retail, any long gun to any person under eighteen years of age.
2. No person, firm or corporation may sell, deliver or otherwise transfer, at retail, any semi-automatic centerfire rifle that has or accepts a magazine with a capacity exceeding five rounds to any person under twenty-one years of age. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to the sale, delivery or transfer of such a rifle to any person who is a member or employee of an organized local police department, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or the Department of Correction or a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States for use in the discharge of their duties.
On and after April 1, 2014, no person may purchase or receive any long gun unless such person holds a valid long gun eligibility certificate issued pursuant to section 29-37p, a valid permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-28, a valid permit to sell at retail a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to subsection (a) of section 29-28 or a valid eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to section 29-36f.
No person, firm or corporation may sell, deliver or otherwise transfer, at retail, any long gun to any person unless such person makes application on a form prescribed and furnished by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, which shall be attached by the transferor to the federal sale or transfer document and filed and retained by the transferor for at least twenty years or until such transferor goes out of business. Such application shall be available for inspection during normal business hours by law enforcement officials. No such sale, delivery or other transfer of any long gun shall be made until the person, firm or corporation making such sale, delivery or transfer has ensured that such application has been completed properly and has obtained an authorization number from the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection for such sale, delivery or transfer. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall make every effort, including performing the national instant criminal background check, to determine if the applicant is eligible to receive such long gun. If it is determined that the applicant is ineligible to receive such long gun, the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall immediately notify the person, firm or corporation to whom such application was made and no such long gun shall be sold, delivered or otherwise transferred to such applicant by such person, firm or corporation. When any long gun is delivered in connection with any sale or purchase, such long gun shall be enclosed in a package, the paper or wrapping of which shall be securely fastened, and no such long gun when delivered on any sale or purchase shall be loaded or contain any gunpowder or other explosive or any bullet, ball or shell. Upon the sale, delivery or other transfer of the long gun, the transferee shall sign in triplicate a receipt for such long gun, which shall contain the name, address and date and place of birth of such transferee, the date of such sale, delivery or transfer and the caliber, make, model and manufacturer's number and a general description thereof. Not later than twenty-four hours after such sale, delivery or transfer, the transferor shall send by first class mail or electronically transfer one receipt to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection and one receipt to the chief of police or, where there is no chief of police, the warden of the borough or the first selectman, of the town in which the transferee resides, and shall retain one receipt, together with the original application, for at least five years.
No sale, delivery or other transfer of any long gun shall be made by a person who is not a federally licensed firearm manufacturer, importer or dealer to a person who is not a federally licensed firearm manufacturer, importer or dealer unless:
1. The prospective transferor and prospective transferee comply with the provisions of subsection (d) of this section and the prospective transferor has obtained an authorization number from the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection for such sale, delivery or transfer; or
2. The prospective transferor or prospective transferee requests a federally licensed firearm dealer to contact the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection on behalf of such prospective transferor or prospective transferee and the federally licensed firearm dealer has obtained an authorization number from the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection for such sale, delivery or transfer.
1. On and after January 1, 2014, for purposes of a transfer pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this section, a prospective transferor or prospective transferee may request a federally licensed firearm dealer to contact the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to obtain an authorization number for such sale, delivery or transfer. If a federally licensed firearm dealer consents to contact the department on behalf of the prospective transferor or prospective transferee, the prospective transferor or prospective transferee shall provide to such dealer the name, sex, race, date of birth and state of residence of the prospective transferee and, if necessary to verify the identity of the prospective transferee, may provide a unique numeric identifier including, but not limited to, a Social Security number, and additional identifiers including, but not limited to, height, weight, eye and hair color, and place of birth. The prospective transferee shall present to the dealer such prospective transferee's valid long gun eligibility certificate issued pursuant to section 29-37p, valid permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-28, valid permit to sell at retail a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to subsection (a) of section 29-28 or valid eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to section 29-36f. The dealer may charge a fee for contacting the department on behalf of the prospective transferor or prospective transferee.
2. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall make every effort, including performing the national instant criminal background check, to determine if the prospective transferee is eligible to receive such long gun. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall immediately notify the dealer of the department's determination and the dealer shall immediately notify the prospective transferor or prospective transferee of such determination. If the department determines the prospective transferee is ineligible to receive such long gun, no long gun shall be sold, delivered or otherwise transferred by the prospective transferor to the prospective transferee. If the department determines the prospective transferee is eligible to receive such long gun and provides an authorization number for such sale, delivery or transfer, the prospective transferor may proceed to sell, deliver or otherwise transfer the long gun to the prospective transferee.
3. Upon the sale, delivery or other transfer of the long gun, the transferor or transferee shall complete a form, prescribed by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, that contains the name and address of the transferor, the name and address of the transferee, the date and place of birth of such transferee, the firearm permit or certificate number of the transferee, the firearm permit or certificate number of the transferor, if any, the date of such sale, delivery or transfer, the caliber, make, model and manufacturer's number and a general description of such long gun and the authorization number provided by the department. Not later than twenty-four hours after such sale, delivery or transfer, the transferor shall send by first class mail or electronically transfer one copy of such form to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection and one copy to the chief of police or, where there is no chief of police, the warden of the borough or the first selectman, of the town in which the transferee resides, and shall retain one copy, for at least five years.
Prior to April 1, 2014, no sale, delivery or other transfer of any long gun shall be made until the expiration of two weeks from the date of the application, except that such waiting period shall not apply to any federal marshal, parole officer or peace officer, or to the sale, delivery or other transfer of
1. any long gun to a holder of a valid state permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued under the provisions of section 29-28, a valid eligibility certificate issued under the provisions of section 29-36f, or a valid long gun eligibility certificate issued under the provisions of section 29-37p,
2. any long gun to an active member of the armed forces of the United States or of any reserve component thereof,
3. any long gun to a holder of a valid hunting license issued pursuant to chapter 490, or
4. antique firearms. For the purposes of this subsection, "antique firearm" means any firearm which was manufactured in or before 1898 and any replica of such firearm, provided such replica is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition except rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition which is no longer manufactured in the United States and not readily available in the ordinary channel of commercial trade.
The provisions of subsections (c) to (g), inclusive of this section shall not apply to the sale, delivery or transfer of
1. long guns to
  1. the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, police departments, the Department of Correction, the Division of Criminal Justice, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection or the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States,
  2. a sworn and duly certified member of an organized police department, the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or the Department of Correction, a chief inspector or inspector in the Division of Criminal Justice, a salaried inspector of motor vehicles designated by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, a conservation officer or special conservation officer appointed by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to section 26-5, or a constable who is certified by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council and appointed by the chief executive authority of a town, city or borough to perform criminal law enforcement duties, pursuant to a letter on the letterhead of such department, division, commissioner or authority authorizing the purchase and stating that the sworn member, inspector, officer or constable will use the long gun in the discharge of official duties, and that a records check indicates that the sworn member, inspector, officer or constable has not been convicted of a crime of family violence, for use by such sworn member, inspector, officer or constable in the discharge of such sworn member's, inspector's, officer's or constable's official duties or when off duty,
  3. a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States, or
  4. a nuclear facility licensed by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the purpose of providing security services at such facility, or any contractor or subcontractor of such facility for the purpose of providing security services at such facility;
2. long guns to or between federally licensed firearm manufacturers, importers or dealers;
3. curios or relics, as defined in 27 CFR 478.11, to or between federally licensed firearm collectors; or
4. antique firearms, as defined in subsection (g) of this section.
If the court finds that a violation of this section is not of a serious nature and that the person charged with such violation
1. will probably not offend in the future,
2. has not previously been convicted of a violation of this section, and
3. has not previously had a prosecution under this section suspended pursuant to this subsection, it may order suspension of prosecution. The court shall not order suspension of prosecution unless the accused person has acknowledged that he understands the consequences of the suspension of prosecution. Any person for whom prosecution is suspended shall agree to the tolling of any statute of limitations with respect to such violation and to a waiver of his right to a speedy trial. Such person shall appear in court and shall be released to the custody of the Court Support Services Division for such period, not exceeding two years, and under such conditions as the court shall order. If the person refuses to accept, or, having accepted, violates such conditions, the court shall terminate the suspension of prosecution and the case shall be brought to trial. If such person satisfactorily completes his period of probation, he may apply for dismissal of the charges against him and the court, on finding such satisfactory completion, shall dismiss such charges. If the person does not apply for dismissal of the charges against him after satisfactorily completing his period of probation, the court, upon receipt of a report submitted by the Court Support Services Division that the person satisfactorily completed his period of probation, may on its own motion make a finding of such satisfactory completion and dismiss such charges. Upon dismissal, all records of such charges shall be erased pursuant to section 54-142a. An order of the court denying a motion to dismiss the charges against a person who has completed his period of probation or terminating the participation of a defendant in such program shall be a final judgment for purposes of appeal.
Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class D felony, except that any person who sells, delivers or otherwise transfers a long gun in violation of the provisions of this section, knowing that such long gun is stolen or that the manufacturer's number or other mark of identification on such long gun has been altered, removed or obliterated, shall be guilty of a class B felony, and any long gun found in the possession of any person in violation of any provision of this section shall be forfeited.

(P.A. 90-340, S. 1; P.A. 99-212, S. 16; P.A. 00-99, S. 78, 154; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; P.A. 13-3, S. 1; 13-220, S. 12.)

History: P.A. 99-212 inserted Subsec. indicators, amended Subsec. (a) to replace provision requiring that application be made in triplicate and that one copy be mailed to the police chief of the municipality within which the applicant resides or, where there is no chief of police, the first selectman or warden of such municipality and that one copy be mailed to the Commissioner of Public Safety with provision requiring that vendor attach the application to the federal sale or transfer document and file and retain it for at least 20 years or until such vendor goes out of business, to add requirement that the application be available for inspection during normal business hours by law enforcement officials, to make the waiting period run from the date of the application rather than the date of the mailing of the copies of the application, to prohibit the sale or delivery until the transferor has insured that the application has been completed properly and has obtained an authorization number, to require the Department of Public Safety to make every effort, including performing the national instant criminal background check, to determine if the applicant is eligible to receive the firearm, to replace provision requiring "such municipal authority or said commissioner, having knowledge of the conviction of such applicant of a felony," to immediately notify the transferor with provision requiring the Commissioner of Public Safety to immediately notify the transferor if "it is determined that the applicant is ineligible to receive such firearm", and amended Subsec. (b) to delete the requirement that the receipt contain the occupation of the purchaser, to replace requirement that the vendor mail two of the triplicate receipts to the Commissioner of Public Safety and retain the other receipt with the application for at least 6 years with requirement that the vendor send by mail or electronically transfer one receipt to said commissioner and one receipt to the chief of police or, where there is no chief of police, the warden of the borough or the first selectman of the town in which the purchaser resides and retain one receipt together with the original application for at least 5 years, to make the provisions of Subsec. (b) not apply to any federal marshal, sheriff, parole officer or peace officer, to make the transfers enumerated in Subdivs. (1) to (4), inclusive, subject to the provisions of Subsec. (a) other than the waiting period, to include in Subdiv. (1) the holder of a valid eligibility certificate and to replace in Subdiv. (3) "long rifles or shotguns" with "any firearm"; P.A. 00-99 deleted reference to sheriff in Subsec. (b), effective December 1, 2000; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, "Commissioner of Public Safety" and "Department of Public Safety" were changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection" and "Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection", respectively, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-3 added new Subsec. (a) to define "long gun", added new Subsec. (b) to prohibit sale, delivery or transfer at retail of long gun to person under 18 and of semi-automatic centerfire rifle with magazine capacity exceeding 5 rounds to person under 21, added Subsec. (c) to prohibit on and after April 1, 2014, purchase or receipt of long gun unless person holds certain certificate or permit or is federal marshal, parole officer or peace officer, redesignated existing Subsecs. (a) and (b) as Subsec. (d) and amended same to replace references to "any firearm, as defined in section 53a-3, other than a pistol or revolver" or "firearm" with "long gun", make provisions applicable to sale, delivery or other transfer of long gun at retail, replace "vendor" with "transferor" and "purchaser" with "transferee", require transferor who is not federally licensed firearm dealer to file and retain application for at least 20 years, delete provision re 2-week waiting period, require receipt to contain date and place of birth of transferee and make technical changes, added Subsec. (e) re procedure for sale, delivery or transfer of long gun between persons who are not federally licensed firearm manufacturers, importers or dealers, added Subsec. (f) re procedure for initiation of national instant criminal background check by dealer and completion of form upon confirmation of eligibility to receive long gun, designated provisions of existing Subsec. (b) re waiting period exception as Subsec. (g) and amended same to add provision re 2-week waiting period for sale, delivery or transfer prior to April 1, 2014, replace references to "firearm" with "long gun", make exception applicable to "sale, delivery or other transfer" rather than "delivery at retail", add exception for holder of long gun eligibility certificate and make a technical change, added Subsec. (h) re inapplicability to sale, delivery or transfer between certain federal firearm licensees, added Subsec. (i) re suspension of prosecution for certain offenders, and added Subsec. (j) re penalty for violation, effective April 4, 2013; P.A. 13-220 amended Subsec. (c) to delete exception for federal marshals and parole officers to purchase or receive long gun without certificate, amended Subsec. (d) to delete requirement that transferor who is not a federally licensed firearm dealer retain forms for 20 years, replaced Subsec. (e)(2) and amended Subsec. (f)(1) to require transferor or transferee to request federally licensed firearm dealer to contact department and obtain an authorization number for sale, delivery or transfer of long gun and replace $20 fee for fee the dealer may charge for contacting department, amended Subsec. (f)(2) re department's duty to make every effort to determine prospective transferee's eligibility and immediately notify dealer of department's determination and provide authorization number for any sale, delivery or transfer to an eligible prospective transferee, substantially revised Subsec. (h) to exempt sale, delivery or transfer of long guns to persons enumerated in Subdiv. (1)(A) to (D) and federally licensed firearm manufacturers, importers or dealers in Subdiv. (2), exempt sale, delivery or transfer of curios or relics in Subdiv. (3) and antique firearms in Subdiv. (4), and made conforming changes, effective June 18, 2013.

Each person, firm or corporation which engages in the retail sale of any pistol or revolver, at the time of sale of any such pistol or revolver, shall
1. equip such pistol or revolver with a reusable trigger lock, gun lock or gun locking device appropriate for such firearm, which lock or device shall be constructed of material sufficiently strong to prevent it from being easily disabled and have a locking mechanism accessible by key or by electronic or other mechanical accessory specific to such lock or device to prevent unauthorized removal, and
2. provide to the purchaser thereof a written warning which shall state in block letters not less than one inch in height: "UNLAWFUL STORAGE OF A LOADED FIREARM MAY RESULT IN IMPRISONMENT OR FINE."
Each such person, firm or corporation shall conspicuously post and at all times display the warning specified in subsection (a) of this section in block letters not less than three inches in height.
Any person, firm or corporation which violates any provision of this section shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars for each violation.

(P.A. 90-144, S. 3; P.A. 98-129, S. 2.)

No person shall make any false statement or give any false information connected with any purchase, sale, delivery or other transfer of any firearm other than a pistol or revolver. Any person violating any provision of this subsection shall be guilty of a class D felony.
Any firearm found in the possession of any person in violation of this section shall be forfeited.

(P.A. 99-212, S. 4.)

No person, firm or corporation that engages in the retail sale of goods, where the principal part of such trade or business is the retail sale of goods other than firearms, shall employ a person to sell firearms in a retail store unless such person

is at least eighteen years of age,
has submitted to state and national criminal history records checks and such checks indicate that such person has not been convicted of a felony or a violation specified in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 29-36f, and
has successfully completed a course or testing approved by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection in firearms safety and statutory procedures relating to the sale of firearms. The sale of firearms by such person, firm or corporation shall be accomplished only by an employee qualified pursuant to this section. Any employer who employs a person to sell firearms in violation of the provisions of this section shall be liable for a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars per day for each violation. The Attorney General shall institute a civil action to recover such penalty.

(P.A. 99-212, S. 6; P.A. 11-51, S. 134.)

No person shall store or keep any loaded firearm on any premises under such person's control if such person knows or reasonably should know that

a minor is likely to gain access to the firearm without the permission of the parent or guardian of the minor unless such person
a resident of the premises is ineligible to possess a firearm under state or federal law, or
a resident of the premises poses a risk of imminent personal injury to himself or herself or to other individuals, unless such person
1. keeps the firearm in a securely locked box or other container or in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure or
2. carries the firearm on his or her person or within such close proximity thereto that such person can readily retrieve and use the firearm as such person he carried the firearm on his or her person. For the purposes of this section, "minor" means any person under the age of sixteen years.

(P.A. 90-144, S. 1; P.A. 13-3, S. 54.)

History: Sec. 29-37c transferred to Sec. 29-37i in 1993; P.A. 13-3 designated existing provision re minor likely to gain access without permission as new Subdiv. (1), added new Subdiv. (2) re resident ineligible to possess firearm and Subdiv. (3) re resident who poses risk of imminent injury to self or others and made technical and conforming changes.

Any person who purchases a firearm, as defined in section 53a-3, pursuant to section 29-33 or 29-37a with the intent to transfer such firearm to any other person who the transferor knows or has reason to believe is prohibited from purchasing or otherwise receiving such a firearm pursuant to section 29-33 or 29-37a shall be guilty of a class C felony for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine.
Any person prohibited from purchasing or otherwise receiving or possessing a firearm and who solicits, employs or assists any person in violating the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a class D felony for which one year of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and three thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine, except that if such person who is prohibited from purchasing or otherwise receiving or possessing a firearm obtains a firearm pursuant to a violation of subsection (a) of this section, such person shall be guilty of a class C felony for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine. Each transfer shall constitute a separate offense.
Any person convicted of violating the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section and who was convicted of a felony within the prior five-year period shall be guilty of a class B felony for which three years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and ten thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine.

(P.A. 93-306, S. 13; P.A. 13-3, S. 53.)

History: P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (a) to change penalty from fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment of not more than 5 years to a class C felony for which 2 years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced and $5,000 of the fine may not be remitted or reduced unless the court states its reasons on the record, amended Subsec. (b) to change penalty for person who solicits, employs or assists violation of Subsec. (a) from a class B misdemeanor to a class D felony for which 1 year of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced and $3,000 of the fine may not be remitted or reduced unless the court states its reasons on the record, and to change penalty for person prohibited from purchasing or receiving or possessing firearm who obtains firearm pursuant to violation of Subsec. (a) from a class A misdemeanor for violation involving transfer of more than one firearm to a class C felony for which 2 years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced and $5,000 of the fine may not be remitted or reduced unless the court states its reasons on the record, and amended Subsec. (c) to change penalty from a class D felony to a class B felony for which 3 years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced and $10,000 of the fine may not be remitted or reduced unless the court states its reasons on the record.

Any person who is eighteen years of age or older may apply to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a long gun eligibility certificate.
The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall issue a long gun eligibility certificate unless said commissioner finds that the applicant:
1. Has failed to successfully complete a course approved by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection in the safety and use of firearms including, but not limited to, a safety or training course in the use of firearms available to the public offered by a law enforcement agency, a private or public educational institution or a firearms training school, utilizing instructors certified by the National Rifle Association or the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and a safety or training course in the use of firearms conducted by an instructor certified by the state or the National Rifle Association;
2. has been convicted of (A) a felony, or (B) on or after October 1, 1994, a violation of section 21a-279, as amended by this act, or section 53a-58, 53a-61, 53a-61a, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-96, 53a-175, 53a-176, 53a-178 or 53a-181d;
3. has been convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense, as defined in section 46b-120;
4. has been discharged from custody within the preceding twenty years after having been found not guilty of a crime by reason of mental disease or defect pursuant to section 53a-13;
5. has been confined in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding sixty months by order of a probate court;
6. has been voluntarily admitted to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding six months for care and treatment of a psychiatric disability and not solely for being an alcohol-dependent person or a drug-dependent person as those terms are defined in section 17a-680;
7. is subject to a restraining or protective order issued by a court in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, including an ex parte order issued pursuant to section 46b-15, as amended by this act, or 46b-16a, as amended by this act;
8. is subject to a firearms seizure order issued pursuant to subsection (d) of section 29-38c after notice and hearing; (9) is prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922(g)(4); or (10) is an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States.

(P.A. 13-3, S. 2; 13-220, S. 15; 2015, P.A. 15-2, S.5; 2016 Public Act 16-34 § 10)

History: P.A. 13-3 effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 13-220 amended Subsec. (b)(2)(B) to limit disqualifying violations to those committed on or after October 1, 1994, effective July 1, 2013.

Requests for long gun eligibility certificates under section 29-37p shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection on application forms prescribed by the commissioner. No long gun eligibility certificate shall be issued under the provisions of section 29-37p unless the applicant for such certificate gives to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, upon the commissioner's request, full information concerning the applicant's criminal record and relevant information concerning the applicant's mental health history. The commissioner shall require each applicant to submit to state and national criminal history records checks in accordance with section 29-17a. The commissioner shall take a full description of such applicant. The commissioner shall take the fingerprints of such applicant or conduct any other method of positive identification required by the State Police Bureau of Identification or the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The commissioner shall record the date the fingerprints were taken in the applicant's file and shall conduct criminal history records checks in accordance with section 29-17a. The commissioner shall, not later than sixty days after receipt of the national criminal history records check from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, either approve the application and issue the long gun eligibility certificate or deny the application and notify the applicant of the reason for such denial in writing.
A long gun eligibility certificate shall be of such form and content as the commissioner may prescribe, shall be signed by the certificate holder and shall contain an identification number, the name, address, place and date of birth, height, weight and eye color of the certificate holder and a full-face photograph of the certificate holder.
A person holding a long gun eligibility certificate issued by the commissioner shall notify the commissioner not later than two business days after any change of such person's address. The notification shall include both the old address and the new address of such person.
Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1-210 and 1-211, the name and address of a person issued a long gun eligibility certificate under the provisions of section 29-37p shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed, except
1. such information may be disclosed to law enforcement officials acting in the performance of their duties, including, but not limited to, employees of the United States Probation Office acting in the performance of their duties and parole officers within the Department of Correction acting in the performance of their duties,
2. the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection may disclose such information to the extent necessary to comply with a request made pursuant to section 29-37a or 29-38m for verification that such certificate 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 to carry out the provisions of subsection (c) of section 17a-500.

(P.A. 13-3, S. 3; 2015, P.A. 15.216, S.7.)

History: P.A. 13-3 effective July 1, 2013.

The fee for each long gun eligibility certificate originally issued under the provisions of section 29-37p shall be thirty-five dollars and for each renewal thereof thirty-five dollars, which fees shall be paid to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Upon deposit of such fees in the General Fund, the fees shall be credited to the appropriation to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to a separate nonlapsing account for the purposes of the issuance of long gun eligibility certificates under said section.
A long gun eligibility certificate originally issued under the provisions of section 29-37p shall expire five years after the date it becomes effective and each renewal thereof shall expire five years after the expiration date of the certificate being renewed.
The renewal fee shall apply for each renewal that is requested not earlier than thirty-one days before, and not later than thirty-one days after, the expiration date of the certificate being renewed.
No fee or portion thereof paid under the provisions of this section for issuance or renewal of a long gun eligibility certificate shall be refundable except if the certificate for which the fee or portion thereof was paid was not issued or renewed.
The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall send a notice of the expiration of a long gun eligibility certificate issued pursuant to section 29-37p to the holder of such certificate, by first class mail, at the address of such person as shown by the records of the commissioner, not less than ninety days before such expiration, and shall enclose therein a form for the renewal of such certificate. A long gun eligibility certificate issued pursuant to said section shall be valid for a period of ninety days from the expiration date, except this provision shall not apply to any certificate which has been revoked or for which revocation is pending, pursuant to section 29-37s.

(P.A. 13-3, S. 4.)

History: P.A. 13-3 effective July 1, 2013.

A long gun eligibility certificate shall be revoked by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection upon the occurrence of any event which would have disqualified the holder from being issued the certificate pursuant to section 29-37p, as amended by this act.
Upon the revocation of any long gun eligibility certificate, the person whose certificate is revoked shall be notified, in writing, and such certificate shall be forthwith delivered to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Any person who fails to surrender such certificate within five days of notification, in writing, of revocation thereof shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
If a long gun eligibility certificate is revoked because the person holding such certificate is subject to an ex parte order issued pursuant to section 46b-15, as amended by this act, or 46b-16a, as amended by this act, upon expiration of such order, such person may notify the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection that such order has expired. Upon verification of such expiration and provided such person is not otherwise disqualified from holding such certificate pursuant to section 29-37p, as amended by this act, the department shall reinstate such certificate.

(P.A. 13-3, S. 5.)

History: P.A. 13-3 effective July 1, 2013; 2016 Public Act 16-34 § 13

Any person who knowingly has, in any vehicle owned, operated or occupied by such person, any weapon, any pistol or revolver for which a proper permit has not been issued as provided in section 29-28 or any machine gun which has not been registered as required by section 53-202, shall be guilty of a class D felony, and the presence of any such weapon, pistol or revolver, or machine gun in any vehicle shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section by the owner, operator and each occupant thereof. The word "weapon", as used in this section, means any BB. gun, any blackjack, any metal or brass knuckles, any police baton or nightstick, any dirk knife or switch knife, any knife having an automatic spring release device by which a blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches in length, any stiletto, any knife the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches or more in length, any martial arts weapon or electronic defense weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
1. any officer charged with the preservation of the public peace while engaged in the pursuit of such officer's official duties;
2. any security guard having a baton or nightstick in a vehicle while engaged in the pursuit of such guard's official duties;
3. any person enrolled in and currently attending a martial arts school, with official verification of such enrollment and attendance, or any certified martial arts instructor, having any such martial arts weapon in a vehicle while traveling to or from such school or to or from an authorized event or competition;
4. any person having a BB. gun in a vehicle provided such weapon is unloaded and stored in the trunk of such vehicle or in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console; and
5. any person having a knife, the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches or more in length, in a vehicle if such person is
  1. any member of the armed forces of the United States, as defined in section 27-103, or any reserve component thereof, or of the armed forces of the state, as defined in section 27-2, when on duty or going to or from duty,
  2. any member of any military organization when on parade or when going to or from any place of assembly,
  3. any person while transporting such knife as merchandise or for display at an authorized gun or knife show,
  4. any person while lawfully removing such person's household goods or effects from one place to another, or from one residence to another,
  5. any person while actually and peaceably engaged in carrying any such knife from such person's place of abode or business to a place or person where or by whom such knife is to be repaired, or while actually and peaceably returning to such person's place of abode or business with such knife after the same has been repaired,
  6. any person holding a valid hunting, fishing or trapping license issued pursuant to chapter 490 or any salt water fisherman while having such knife in a vehicle for lawful hunting, fishing or trapping activities, or
  7. any person participating in an authorized historic reenactment.

(1949 Rev., S. 4169; 1953, S. 2133d; P.A. 86-280, S. 1; P.A. 87-220, S. 2; P.A. 98-129, S. 11; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 120, 121; P.A. 99-212, S. 14; P.A. 10-32, S. 98' P.A. 13-258, S. 94.)

History: P.A. 86-280 included martial arts weapons in definition of weapon and added exception for persons enrolled in and attending a martial arts school while traveling to and from such school; P.A. 87-220 made technical changes and deleted provision including "nunchaku and chinese stars" within meaning of a martial arts weapon since weapons are already included in referenced definition of Sec. 53a-3; P.A. 98-129 deleted reference to a permit for a weapon issued pursuant to Sec. 53-206, redefined "weapon" to add BB. gun and electronic defense weapon and exclude sand bag and slung shot and added exception permitting certain individuals to have a knife with a blade of four inches or more in a vehicle; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 repealed Sec. 11 of P.A. 98-129, thereby nullifying the changes in P.A. 98-129, effective June 24, 1998; P.A. 99-212 inserted Subsec. indicators, amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to a permit for a weapon issued pursuant to Sec. 53-206, redefined "weapon" to add BB. gun, police baton or nightstick and electronic defense weapon and delete slung shot and sand bag, rephrased and repositioned provisions and made provisions gender neutral and added new Subsec. (b)(1) and (2) re exceptions for officer charged with preservation of public peace and for security guard having a baton or nightstick in vehicle, designated existing exception for martial arts students as Subdiv. (3) and amended said Subdiv. to include any certified martial arts instructor and include having martial arts weapon in vehicle while traveling to or from an authorized event or competition, and added Subsec. (b)(4) re exceptions for any person having BB. gun that is unloaded and secured in vehicle and for certain persons having knife with a blade of four inches or more in vehicle under certain circumstances; P.A. 10-32 made technical changes, effective May 10, 2010; P.A. 13-258 amended Subsec. (a) to change penalty from fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment of not more than 5 years to a class D felony.

The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in fulfilling his obligations under sections 29-28 to 29-38, inclusive, and section 53-202d, shall verify that any person who, on or after October 1, 1998, applies for or seeks renewal of a permit to sell at retail a pistol or revolver, a permit to carry a pistol or revolver, an eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver or a certificate of possession for an assault weapon, or who, on or after July 1, 2013, applies for or seeks renewal of a long gun eligibility certificate, has not been confined in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding sixty months by order of a probate court or has not been voluntarily admitted to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding six months for care and treatment of a psychiatric disability and not solely for being an alcohol-dependent person or a drug-dependent person as those terms are defined in section 17a-680, by making an inquiry to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services in such a manner so as to only receive a report on the commitment or admission status of the person with respect to whom the inquiry is made including identifying information in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of section 17a-500.
If the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection determines pursuant to subsection (a) of this section that a person has been confined in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding sixty months by order of a probate court or has been voluntarily admitted to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding six months for care and treatment of a psychiatric disability and not solely for being an alcohol-dependent person or a drug-dependent person as those terms are defined in section 17a-680, said commissioner shall report the status of such person's application for or renewal of a permit to sell at retail a pistol or revolver, a permit to carry a pistol or revolver, an eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver, a certificate of possession for an assault weapon or a long gun eligibility certificate to the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services for the purpose of fulfilling his responsibilities under subsection (c) of section 17a-500.

(P.A. 98-129, S. 19; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; P.A. 13-3, S. 8.)

History: (Revisor's note: A reference to repealed section "29-38a" in Subsec. (a) was replaced editorially by the Revisors with a reference to section "29-38".); pursuant to P.A. 11-51, "Commissioner of Public Safety" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection", effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (a) to include commissioner's obligations under Secs. 29-37p to 29-37s in existing reference, make provisions applicable to person who on or after July 1, 2013, applies for or seeks renewal of a long gun eligibility certificate, replace "twelve months" with "sixty months" re hospital confinement by probate court order, add provision re verification that person has not been voluntarily admitted to hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities within preceding 6 months for care and treatment of a psychiatric disability and not solely for being an alcohol-dependent or drug-dependent person and replace "commitment status" with "commitment or admission status", and amended Subsec. (b) to replace "twelve months" with "sixty months" re hospital confinement by probate court order, add provision re determination that person has been voluntarily admitted to hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities within preceding 6 months for care and treatment of a psychiatric disability and not solely for being an alcohol-dependent or drug-dependent person and make provisions applicable to status of application for or renewal of long gun eligibility certificate, effective July 1, 2013.

(Upon complaint on oath by any state's attorney or assistant state's attorney or by any two police officers, to any judge of the Superior Court, that such state's attorney or police officers have probable cause to believe that (1) a person poses a risk of imminent personal injury to himself or herself or to other individuals, (2) such person possesses one or more firearms, and (3) such firearm or firearms are within or upon any place, thing or person, such judge may issue a warrant commanding a proper officer to enter into or upon such place or thing, search the same or the person and take into such officer's custody any and all firearms and ammunition. Such state's attorney or police officers shall not make such complaint unless such state's attorney or police officers have conducted an independent investigation and have determined that such probable cause exists and that there is no reasonable alternative available to prevent such person from causing imminent personal injury to himself or herself or to others with such firearm.
A warrant may issue only on affidavit sworn to by the complainant or complainants before the judge and establishing the grounds for issuing the warrant, which affidavit shall be part of the seizure file. In determining whether grounds for the application exist or whether there is probable cause to believe they exist, the judge shall consider: (1) Recent threats or acts of violence by such person directed toward other persons; (2) recent threats or acts of violence by such person directed toward himself or herself; and (3) recent acts of cruelty to animals as provided in subsection (b) of section 53-247 by such person. In evaluating whether such recent threats or acts of violence constitute probable cause to believe that such person poses a risk of imminent personal injury to himself or herself or to others, the judge may consider other factors including, but not limited to (A) the reckless use, display or brandishing of a firearm by such person, (B) a history of the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force by such person against other persons, (C) prior involuntary confinement of such person in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, and (D) the illegal use of controlled substances or abuse of alcohol by such person. If the judge is satisfied that the grounds for the application exist or that there is probable cause to believe that they exist, such judge shall issue a warrant naming or describing the person, place or thing to be searched. The warrant shall be directed to any police officer of a regularly organized police department or any state police officer. It shall state the grounds or probable cause for its issuance and it shall command the officer to search within a reasonable time the person, place or thing named for any and all firearms and ammunition. A copy of the warrant shall be given to the person named therein together with a notice informing the person that such person has the right to a hearing under this section and the right to be represented by counsel at such hearing.
The applicant for the warrant shall file a copy of the application for the warrant and all affidavits upon which the warrant is based with the clerk of the court for the geographical area within which the search will be conducted no later than the next business day following the execution of the warrant. Prior to the execution and return of the warrant, the clerk of the court shall not disclose any information pertaining to the application for the warrant or any affidavits upon which the warrant is based. The warrant shall be executed and returned with reasonable promptness consistent with due process of law and shall be accompanied by a written inventory of all firearms and ammunition seized.
Not later than fourteen days after the execution of a warrant under this section, the court for the geographical area where the person named in the warrant resides shall hold a hearing to determine whether the firearm or firearms and any ammunition seized should be returned to the person named in the warrant or should continue to be held by the state. At such hearing the state shall have the burden of proving all material facts by clear and convincing evidence. If, after such hearing, the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person poses a risk of imminent personal injury to himself or herself or to other individuals, the court may order that the firearm or firearms and any ammunition seized pursuant to the warrant issued under subsection (a) of this section continue to be held by the state for a period not to exceed one year, otherwise the court shall order the firearm or firearms and any ammunition seized to be returned to the person named in the warrant. If the court finds that the person poses a risk of imminent personal injury to himself or herself or to other individuals, the court shall give notice to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services which may take such action pursuant to chapter 319i as it deems appropriate.
Any person whose firearm or firearms and ammunition have been ordered seized pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, or such person's legal representative, may transfer such firearm or firearms and ammunition in accordance with the provisions of section 29-33 or other applicable state or federal law, to any person eligible to possess such firearm or firearms and ammunition. Upon notification in writing by such person, or such person's legal representative, and the transferee, the head of the state agency holding such seized firearm or firearms and ammunition shall within ten days deliver such firearm or firearms and ammunition to the transferee.
For the purposes of this section, "ammunition" means a loaded cartridge, consisting of a primed case, propellant or projectile, designed for use in any firearm.

(P.A. 99-212, S. 18; P.A. 13-3, S. 33.)

History: P.A. 13-3 made provisions re seizure and transfer of firearms applicable to ammunition, added Subsec. (f) defining "ammunition" and made technical changes.

The provisions of sections 29-35 and 29-38 shall not apply to the interstate transportation of firearms through this state in accordance with 18 USC 926A and 927, as amended from time to time, by any person who is not otherwise prohibited from shipping, transporting, receiving or possessing a firearm. Such person may transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where such person may lawfully possess and carry such firearm through this state to any other place where such person may lawfully possess and carry such firearm provided such transportation is in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.
During the transportation of a firearm through this state as authorized in subsection (a) of this section, such firearm shall be unloaded and neither such firearm nor any ammunition being transported shall be readily accessible or directly accessible from the passenger compartment of the vehicle. If the vehicle does not have a compartment separate from the passenger compartment, such firearm shall be unloaded and such firearm and any ammunition being transported shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.
No person who is transporting a firearm through this state in accordance with this section may use or carry such firearm or sell, deliver or otherwise transfer such firearm while in this state.

(P.A. 99-212, S. 3.)

There shall be a State-Wide Firearms Trafficking Task Force Policy Board within the Division of State Police, within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, for administrative purposes only, consisting of the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Chief State's Attorney, the agent in Connecticut in charge of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the president of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association and five chiefs of police designated by said association, each to serve for a term of one year, provided one such chief of police shall be from a municipality with a population of one hundred thousand or more.
The policy board shall direct the formulation of policies and operating procedures of the task force.
The policy board may apply for and administer any federal, state, local or private appropriations or grant funds made available for the operation of the task force.
The receipts from the sale of seized firearms and ammunition pursuant to section 54-36e shall be deposited in the General Fund and credited to a separate, nonlapsing forfeit firearms account which shall be established by the Comptroller. All moneys in the account are deemed to be appropriated and shall be expended for the purposes established in section 29-38e.

(P.A. 00-192, S. 41, 102; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; P.A. 13-3, S. 40.)

History: P.A. 00-192 effective July 1, 2000 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (d), a reference to "section 1 of this act" was deemed by the Revisors to be a reference to "section 40 of this act" and codified as "section 29-38e", for accuracy); pursuant to P.A. 11-51, "Commissioner of Public Safety" and "Department of Public Safety" were changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection" and "Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection", respectively, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (d) to add provision re receipts from sale of seized ammunition.

For the purposes of this section and sections 29-38n to 29-38p, inclusive, "ammunition" means a loaded cartridge, consisting of a primed case, propellant or projectile, designed for use in any firearm, "firearm" has the meaning provided in section 53a-3, and "magazine" means any firearm magazine, belt, drum, feed strip or similar device that accepts ammunition.
No person, firm or corporation shall sell ammunition or an ammunition magazine to any person under eighteen years of age.
On and after October 1, 2013, no person, firm or corporation shall sell ammunition or an ammunition magazine to any person unless such person holds a valid permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-28, a valid permit to sell at retail a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to subsection (a) of section 29-28, a valid eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to section 29-36f or a valid long gun eligibility certificate issued pursuant to section 29-37p and presents to the transferor such permit or certificate, or unless such person holds a valid ammunition certificate issued pursuant to section 29-38n and presents to the transferor such certificate and such person's motor vehicle operator's license, passport or other valid form of identification issued by the federal government or a state or municipal government that contains such person's date of birth and photograph.
The provisions of subsection (c) of this section shall not apply to the sale of ammunition to (1) the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, police departments, the Department of Correction, the Division of Criminal Justice, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection or the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States; (2) a sworn and duly certified member of an organized police department, the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or the Department of Correction, a chief inspector or inspector in the Division of Criminal Justice, a salaried inspector of motor vehicles designated by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, a conservation officer or special conservation officer appointed by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to section 26-5, or a constable who is certified by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council and appointed by the chief executive authority of a town, city or borough to perform criminal law enforcement duties, for use by such sworn member, inspector, officer or constable in the discharge of such sworn member's, inspector's, officer's or constable's official duties or when off duty; (3) a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States; (4) a nuclear facility licensed by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the purpose of providing security services at such facility, or any contractor or subcontractor of such facility for the purpose of providing security services at such facility; or (5) a federally licensed firearm manufacturer, importer, dealer or collector.
Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class D felony.

(P.A. 13-3, S. 14; 13-220, S. 19.)

History: P.A. 13-3 effective April 4, 2013; P.A. 13-220 amended Subsec. (d) to substantially revise list of persons to whom provisions of Subsec. (c) are not applicable, effective June 18, 2013.

Any person who is eighteen years of age or older may request the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection to (1) conduct a state criminal history records check of such person, in accordance with the provisions of section 29-17a, using such person's name and date of birth only, and (2) issue an ammunition certificate to such person in accordance with the provisions of this section.
After conducting the state criminal history records check of such person, the commissioner shall issue an ammunition certificate to such person unless the commissioner determines, based on a review of the results of such criminal history records check, that such person would be ineligible to be issued a long gun eligibility certificate under section 29-37p, except that a conviction of a violation specified in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 29-37p shall cause such person to be ineligible for an ammunition certificate only if such conviction was for a violation committed on or after July 1, 2013.
Such ammunition certificate shall be of such form as the commissioner may prescribe, contain an identification number and the name, address and date of birth of the certificate holder and be signed by the certificate holder.
A person holding an ammunition certificate issued by the commissioner shall notify the commissioner not later than two business days after any change of such person's address. The notification shall include both the old address and the new address of such person.
Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1-210 and 1-211, the name and address of a person issued an ammunition certificate under this section shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed, except
1. such information may be disclosed to law enforcement officials acting in the performance of their duties, including, but not limited to, employees of the United States Probation Office acting in the performance of their duties and parole officers within the Department of Correction acting in the performance of their duties,
2. the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection may disclose such information to the extent necessary to comply with a request made pursuant to section 29-38m for verification that such certificate 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 to carry out the provisions of subsection (c) of section 17a-500.

(P.A. 13-3, S. 15; 13-220, S. 13; 2015, P.A. 15.216, S.6.)

History: P.A. 13-3 effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 13-220 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to substitute "state" for "national" re criminal history records check, effective July 1, 2013.

The fee for each ammunition certificate originally issued under the provisions of this section shall be thirty-five dollars and for each renewal thereof thirty-five dollars, which fees shall be paid to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection and shall be in addition to the fee paid pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-17a for conducting the national criminal history records check. Upon deposit of such fees in the General Fund, the fees shall be credited to the appropriation to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to a separate nonlapsing account for the purposes of the issuance of ammunition certificates under section 29-38n.
An ammunition certificate originally issued under the provisions of section 29-38n shall expire five years after the date it becomes effective and each renewal thereof shall expire five years after the expiration date of the certificate being renewed.
The renewal fee shall apply for each renewal that is requested not earlier than thirty-one days before, and not later than thirty-one days after, the expiration date of the certificate being renewed.
No fee or portion thereof paid under the provisions of this section for issuance or renewal of an ammunition certificate shall be refundable except if the certificate for which the fee or portion thereof was paid was not issued or renewed.
An ammunition certificate issued pursuant to section 29-38n shall be valid for a period of ninety days from the expiration date, except this provision shall not apply to any certificate which has been revoked or for which revocation is pending, pursuant to section 29-38p.

(P.A. 13-3, S. 16.)

History: P.A. 13-3 effective July 1, 2013.

An ammunition certificate shall be revoked by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection upon the occurrence of any event which would have disqualified the holder from being issued the certificate pursuant to section 29-38n.
Upon the revocation of any ammunition certificate, the person whose certificate is revoked shall be notified, in writing, and such certificate shall be forthwith delivered to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Any person who fails to surrender such certificate within five days of notification, in writing, of revocation thereof shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
If an ammunition certificate is revoked because the person holding such certificate is subject to an ex parte order issued pursuant to section 46b-15, as amended by this act, or 46b-16a, as amended by this act, upon expiration of such order, such person may notify the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection that such order has expired. Upon verification of such expiration and provided such person is not otherwise disqualified from holding such certificate pursuant to section 29-38n the department shall reinstate such certificate.

(P.A. 13-3, S. 17.)

History: P.A. 13-3 effective July 1, 2013; 2016 Public Act 16-34 § 14

Any person having a federal firearms disability under 18 USC 922(d)(4) and 18 USC 922(g)(4), as a result of an adjudication or commitment rendered in this state, may petition the probate court for the district in which such person resides for relief from the federal firearms disability that resulted from such adjudication or commitment.
The petitioner shall submit to the Probate Court, together with the petition and the releases required by subsection (d) of this section, information in support of the petition, including, but not limited to:
1. Certified copies of medical records detailing the petitioner's psychiatric history where applicable, including records pertaining to the specific adjudication or commitment that is the subject of the petition;
2. Certified copies of medical records from all of the petitioner's current treatment providers, if the petitioner is receiving treatment;
3. A certified copy of all criminal history information maintained on file by the State Police Bureau of Identification and the Federal Bureau of Investigation pertaining to the petitioner or a copy of the response from said bureaus indicating that there is no criminal history information on file;
4. Evidence of the petitioner's reputation, which may include notarized letters of reference from current and past employers, family members or personal friends, affidavits from the petitioner or other character evidence; and
5. Any further information or documents specifically requested by the court, which documents shall be certified copies of original documents.
The petitioner shall cause a copy of the petition and all supporting documents submitted to the Probate Court pursuant to subsection (b) of this section to be delivered to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection and shall certify to the Probate Court that such delivery has been made.
The petitioner shall provide for the release of all of the petitioner's records that may relate to the petition, including, but not limited to, health, mental health, military, immigration, juvenile court, civil court and criminal records, on forms prescribed by the Probate Court Administrator. The releases shall authorize the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection to obtain any of such records for use at the Probate Court hearing or in any appeal from the decision of the Probate Court.
The petitioner shall ensure that all required information accompanies the petition at the time it is submitted to the court. Unless specifically requested by the court, information provided after receipt of the petition by the court shall not be considered. Information specifically requested by the court must be received by the court no later than fifteen days after the date of the request in order for the information to be considered. The court may extend such time period for good cause shown. Failure to provide the requested information within such time period may result in a denial of the petition.
Upon the filing of the petition, the Probate Court shall set a date, time and place for a hearing and shall give notice of such hearing to (1) the petitioner, (2) the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, (3) the court that rendered the adjudication or commitment, (4) the conservator appointed for the petitioner, if any, and (5) any other person determined by the court to have an interest in the matter.
The court shall cause a recording of the testimony given at such hearing to be made. Such recording shall be transcribed only in the event of an appeal from the decision rendered by the Probate Court under this section. A copy of such transcript shall be furnished without charge to any appellant whom the Probate Court finds is unable to pay for such copy. The cost of such transcript shall be paid from funds appropriated to the Judicial Department.
The petitioner shall have the burden of establishing by clear and convincing evidence that (1) the petitioner is not likely to act in a manner that is dangerous to public safety, and (2) granting relief from the federal firearms disability is not contrary to the public interest. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection and any other person determined by the court to have an interest in the matter may present any and all relevant information at the Probate Court hearing and in any appeal to the Superior Court.
In determining whether to grant relief under this section, the court shall consider the following:
1. The circumstances regarding the firearms disability imposed by 18 USC 922(d)(4) and 18 USC 922(g)(4);
2. The petitioner's record, which shall include, at a minimum, the petitioner's mental health records and criminal history records, if any;
3. The petitioner's reputation, which the petitioner must demonstrate through character witness statements, testimony or other character evidence; and
4. Any other relevant information provided by the petitioner, the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection or any other person determined by the court to have an interest in the matter.
The court shall grant relief under this section if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that: (1) The petitioner will not be likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety, and (2) granting the relief will not be contrary to the public interest. The court shall include in its decision the specific findings of fact on which it bases its decision.
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (j) of this section, the court shall not grant relief under this section if it finds that the petitioner is otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm pursuant to section 53a-217.
The petitioner or the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection may appeal the final decision of the Probate Court to the Superior Court in accordance with the provisions of section 45a-186. Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, any review of the decision of the Probate Court by the Superior Court shall be de novo.
Enforcement of any decision of the Probate Court granting relief pursuant to the petition shall be stayed until the period in which to take an appeal under section 45a-186 has expired or, if an appeal is taken, until the final decision of the court. If the court grants the relief and no appeal is taken or an appeal is taken and the decision is upheld, the court granting relief shall notify the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection of that decision.
As soon as practicable after receiving notice of the decision of the court granting relief, the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall (1) coordinate the removal or cancellation of the record in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), and (2) notify the Attorney General of the United States that the basis of the record no longer applies.
All proceedings in the Probate Court under the provisions of this section shall be closed to the public and all records of the proceedings shall be confidential and not subject to disclosure except to the petitioner or his or her counsel and the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, unless the Probate Court, after notice to the parties and a hearing, determines that such records should be disclosed for good cause shown.

(P.A. 11-134, S. 1; P.A. 13-220. S. 20.)

History: P.A. 11-134 effective July 1, 2011 (Revisor's note: "Commissioner of Public Safety" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection" to conform with changes made by P.A. 11-51); P.A. 13-220 added new Subsec. (k) re court not to grant relief if it finds petitioner is otherwise prohibited from possessing firearm under Sec. 53a-217 and redesignated existing Subsecs. (k) to (n) as Subsecs. (l) to (o).

Any person who sells, delivers or otherwise transfers a firearm, as defined in section 53a-3, to a person knowing that such other person is prohibited from possessing such firearm shall be strictly liable for damages for the injury or death of another person resulting from the use of such firearm by any person.

Any person whose act or omission constitutes a violation of section 29-37i, as amended by this act, shall be strictly liable for damages when a minor or, a resident of the premises who is ineligible to possess a firearm under state or federal law or who poses a risk of imminent personal injury to himself or herself or to other individuals, obtains a firearm, as defined in section 53a-3, and causes the injury or death of such minor, resident or any other person. For the purposes of this section, "minor" means any person under the age of eighteen years.

(P.A. 99-212, S. 9; P.A. 13-3, S. 55; P.A. 19-5, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 13-3 made section applicable to injury or death caused by resident of premises who obtains firearm while ineligible to possess firearm or while posing a risk of imminent personal injury to self or others.

As used in this section:
1. "Machine gun" shall apply to and include a weapon of any description, loaded or unloaded, which shoots, is designed to shoot or can be readily restored to shoot automatically more than one projectile, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger, and shall also include any part or combination of parts designed for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun and any combination of parts from which a machine gun can be assembled if such parts are in the possession of or under the control of a person.
2. "Crime of violence" shall apply to and include any of the following-named crimes or an attempt to commit any of the same: Murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, sexual assault and sexual assault with a firearm, assault in the first or second degree, robbery, burglary, larceny and riot in the first degree.
3. "Projectile" means any size bullet that when affixed to any cartridge case may be propelled through the bore of a machine gun.
Any person who possesses or uses a machine gun in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of a crime of violence shall be imprisoned not less than ten years nor more than twenty years.
Any person who
1. possesses or uses a machine gun for an offensive or aggressive purpose, or
2. notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision
3. of subsection (h) of this section, transfers, sells or gives a machine gun to a person under sixteen years of age, including the temporary transfer of a machine gun to such person for use in target shooting or on a firing or shooting range or for any other purpose, shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not less than five years nor more than ten years or be both fined and imprisoned.
The possession or use of a machine gun shall be presumed to be for an offensive or aggressive purpose:
1. When the machine gun is on premises not owned or rented, for bona fide permanent residence or business occupancy, by the person in whose possession the machine gun was found; or
2. when in the possession of, or used by, an unnaturalized foreign-born person, or a person who has been convicted of a crime of violence in any state or federal court of record of the United States of America, its territories or insular possessions; or
3. when the machine gun is of the kind described in subsection (g) hereof and has not been registered as therein required; or (4) when empty or loaded projectiles of any caliber which have been or are susceptible of use in the machine gun are found in the immediate vicinity thereof.
The presence of a machine gun in any room, boat or vehicle shall be presumptive evidence of the possession or use of the machine gun by each person occupying such room, boat or vehicle.
Each manufacturer shall keep a register of all machine guns manufactured or handled by the manufacturer. Such register shall show the model and serial number, and the date of manufacture, sale, loan, gift, delivery or receipt, of each machine gun, the name, address and occupation of the person to whom the machine gun was sold, loaned, given or delivered, or from whom it was received and the purpose for which it was acquired by the person to whom the machine gun was sold, loaned, given or delivered. Upon demand, any manufacturer shall permit any marshal or police officer to inspect such manufacturer's entire stock of machine guns, and parts and supplies therefor, and shall produce the register, herein required, for inspection. Any person who violates any provision of this subsection shall be fined not more than two thousand dollars.
Each machine gun in this state adapted to use projectiles of any caliber shall be registered in the office of the Commissioner of Public Safety within twenty-four hours after its acquisition and, thereafter, annually, on July first. Blanks for registration shall be prepared by said commissioner and furnished upon application. To comply with this subsection, the application as filed shall show the model and serial number of the gun, the name, address and occupation of the person in possession, and from whom and the purpose for which the gun was acquired. The registration data shall not be subject to inspection by the public. Any person who fails to register any gun as required hereby shall be presumed to possess the same for an offensive or aggressive purpose. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any machine gun which has been registered under the provisions of subsection (f) and which is still in the actual possession of the manufacturer.
No provision of this section shall apply to:
1. The manufacture of machine guns for sale or transfer to the United States government, to any state, territory or possession of the United States or to any political subdivision thereof or to the District of Columbia;
2. the possession of a machine gun rendered inoperable by welding of all critical functioning parts and possessed as a curiosity, ornament or keepsake; or
3. a machine gun acquired, transferred or possessed in accordance with the National Firearms Act, as amended, provided such machine gun shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (g) of this section.

(1949 Rev., S. 8509; 1963, P.A. 652, S. 10; P.A. 76-336, S. 19; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 84-200; P.A. 00-99, S. 118, 154; P.A. 01-195, S. 69, 181; P.A. 09-62, S. 1.)

History: 1963 act deleted provisions re issuance of search warrant and order for confiscation; P.A. 76-336 redefined "crime of violence" to delete rape, mayhem, housebreaking, breaking and entering and assault "to do great bodily harm" and to add sexual assault, sexual assault with a firearm and assault in the first or second degree; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of state police with commissioner of public safety, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 84-200 replaced numeric Subsec. indicators with alphabetic indicators, replaced alphabetic Subdiv. indicators with numeric indicators, amended Subsec. (a) by redefining machine gun, including riot in the first degree as a crime of violence and adding a definition of "projectile", amended Subsec. (b) by providing a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, amended Subsec. (c) by providing a maximum fine of $1,000 and a minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years or both a fine and imprisonment, amended Subsecs. (d) and (g) by replacing pistol shells or cartridges of 30 or larger caliber with "projectiles of any caliber", and amended Subsec. (h) by adding Subdivs. (2) and (3) re exceptions for machine guns rendered inoperable by welding of all critical functioning parts and machine guns acquired, transferred or possessed in accordance with the National Firearms Act; P.A. 00-99 deleted reference to sheriff in Subsec. (f), effective December 1, 2000; P.A. 01-195 made technical changes in Subsec. (f), effective July 11, 2001; P.A. 09-62 amended Subsec. (c) to designate existing provision prohibiting a person from possessing or using a machine gun for offensive or aggressive purpose as Subdiv. (1) and add Subdiv. (2) prohibiting a person from transferring, selling or giving a machine gun to person under 16 years of age.

See Secs. 29-27 to 29-38, inclusive, re permits for pistols and revolvers.
See Sec. 54-33a et seq. re searches.
Cited. 237 C. 348.
Cited. 9 CA 330. Cited. 17 CA 556. Cited. 25 CA 433. Cited. 44 CA 40.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 224 C. 163.
Cited. 26 CA 698.

As used in this section and sections 53-202b to 53-202k, inclusive:

"Assault weapon" means:
1. 1. Any selective-fire firearm capable of fully automatic, semiautomatic or burst fire at the option of the user or any of the following specified semiautomatic firearms:
    1. Algimec Agmi;
    2. Armalite AR-180;
    3. Australian Automatic Arms SAP Pistol;
    4. Auto-Ordnance Thompson type;
    5. Avtomat Kalashnikov AK-47 type;
    6. Barrett Light-Fifty model 82A1;
    7. Beretta AR-70;
    8. Bushmaster Auto Rifle and Auto Pistol;
    9. Calico models M-900, M-950 and 100-P;
    10. Chartered Industries of Singapore SR-88;
    11. Colt AR-15 and Sporter;
    12. Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max-1 and Max-2;
    13. Encom MK-IV, MP-9 and MP-45;
    14. Fabrique Nationale FN/FAL, FN/LAR, or FN/FNC;
    15. FAMAS MAS 223;
    16. Feather AT-9 and Mini-AT;
    17. Federal XC-900 and XC-450;
    18. Franchi SPAS-12 and LAW-12;
    19. Galil AR and ARM;
    20. Goncz High-Tech Carbine and High-Tech Long Pistol;
    21. Heckler & Koch HK-91, HK-93, HK-94 and SP-89;
    22. Holmes MP-83;
    23. MAC-10, MAC-11 and MAC-11 Carbine type;
    24. Intratec TEC-9 and Scorpion;
    25. Iver Johnson Enforcer model 3000;
    26. Ruger Mini-14/5F folding stock model only;
    27. Scarab Skorpion;
    28. SIG 57 AMT and 500 series;
    29. Spectre Auto Carbine and Auto Pistol;
    30. Springfield Armory BM59, SAR-48 and G-3;
    31. Sterling MK-6 and MK-7;
    32. Steyr AUG;
    33. Street Sweeper and Striker 12 revolving cylinder shotguns;
    34. USAS-12;
    35. UZI Carbine, Mini-Carbine and Pistol;
    36. Weaver Arms Nighthawk;
    37. Wilkinson "Linda" Pistol;
  2. A part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert a firearm into an assault weapon, as defined in subparagraph (A)(i) of this subdivision, or any combination of parts from which an assault weapon, as defined in subparagraph (A)(i) of this subdivision, may be rapidly assembled if those parts are in the possession or under the control of the same person;
2. Any of the following specified semiautomatic centerfire rifles, or copies or duplicates thereof with the capability of any such rifles, that were in production prior to or on the effective date of this section:
  1. AK-47;
  2. AK-74;
  3. AKM;
  4. AKS-74U;
  5. ARM;
  6. MAADI AK47;
  7. MAK90;
  8. MISR;
  9. NHM90 and NHM91;
  10. Norinco 56, 56S, 84S and 86S;
  11. Poly Technologies AKS and AK47;
  12. SA 85;
  13. SA 93;
  14. VEPR;
  15. WASR-10;
  16. WUM;
  17. Rock River Arms LAR-47;
  18. Vector Arms AK-47;
  19. AR-10;
  20. AR-15;
  21. Bushmaster Carbon 15, Bushmaster XM15, Bushmaster ACR Rifles, Bushmaster MOE Rifles;
  22. Colt Match Target Rifles;
  23. Armalite M15;
  24. Olympic Arms AR-15, A1, CAR, PCR, K3B, K30R, K16, K48, K8 and K9 Rifles;
  25. DPMS Tactical Rifles;
  26. Smith and Wesson M&P15 Rifles;
  27. Rock River Arms LAR-15;
  28. Doublestar AR Rifles;
  29. Barrett REC7;
  30. Beretta Storm;
  31. Calico Liberty 50, 50 Tactical, 100, 100 Tactical, I, I Tactical, II and II Tactical Rifles;
  32. Hi-Point Carbine Rifles;
  33. HK-PSG-1;
  34. Kel-Tec Sub-2000, SU Rifles, and RFB;
  35. Remington Tactical Rifle Model 7615;
  36. SAR-8, SAR-4800 and SR9;
  37. SLG 95;
  38. SLR 95 or 96;
  39. TNW M230 and M2HB;
  40. Vector Arms UZI;
  41. Galil and Galil Sporter;
  42. Daewoo AR 100 and AR 110C;
  43. Fabrique Nationale/FN 308 Match and L1A1 Sporter;
  44. HK USC;
  45. IZHMASH Saiga AK;
  46. SIG Sauer 551-A1, 556, 516, 716 and M400 Rifles;
  47. Valmet M62S, M71S and M78S;
  48. Wilkinson Arms Linda Carbine; and
  49. Barrett M107A1;
3. Any of the following specified semiautomatic pistols, or copies or duplicates thereof with the capability of any such pistols, that were in production prior to or on the effective date of this section:
  1. Centurion 39 AK;
  2. Draco AK-47;
  3. HCR AK-47;
  4. IO Inc. Hellpup AK-47;
  5. Mini-Draco AK-47;
  6. Yugo Krebs Krink;
  7. American Spirit AR-15;
  8. Bushmaster Carbon 15;
  9. Doublestar Corporation AR;
  10. DPMS AR-15;
  11. Olympic Arms AR-15;
  12. Rock River Arms LAR 15;
  13. Calico Liberty III and III Tactical Pistols;
  14. Masterpiece Arms MPA Pistols and Velocity Arms VMA Pistols;
  15. Intratec TEC-DC9 and AB-10;
  16. Colefire Magnum;
  17. German Sport 522 PK and Chiappa Firearms Mfour-22;
  18. DSA SA58 PKP FAL;
  19. I.O. Inc. PPS-43C;
  20. Kel-Tec PLR-16 Pistol;
  21. Sig Sauer P516 and P556 Pistols; and
  22. Thompson TA5 Pistols;
4. Any of the following semiautomatic shotguns, or copies or duplicates thereof with the capability of any such shotguns, that were in production prior to or on the effective date of this section: All IZHMASH Saiga 12 Shotguns;
5. Any semiautomatic firearm regardless of whether such firearm is listed in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of this subdivision, and regardless of the date such firearm was produced, that meets the following criteria:
  1. A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least one of the following:
    1. A folding or telescoping stock;
    2. Any grip of the weapon, including a pistol grip, a thumbhole stock, or any other stock, the use of which would allow an individual to grip the weapon, resulting in any finger on the trigger hand in addition to the trigger finger being directly below any portion of the action of the weapon when firing;
    3. A forward pistol grip;
    4. A flash suppressor; or
    5. A grenade launcher or flare launcher; or
  2. A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the ability to accept more than ten rounds; or
  3. A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than thirty inches; or
  4. A semiautomatic pistol that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least one of the following:
    1. An ability to accept a detachable ammunition magazine that attaches at some location outside of the pistol grip;
    2. A threaded barrel capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward pistol grip or silencer;
    3. A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel and that permits the shooter to fire the firearm without being burned, except a slide that encloses the barrel; or
    4. A second hand grip; or
  5. A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the ability to accept more than ten rounds; or
  6. A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following:
    1. A folding or telescoping stock; and
    2. Any grip of the weapon, including a pistol grip, a thumbhole stock, or any other stock, the use of which would allow an individual to grip the weapon, resulting in any finger on the trigger hand in addition to the trigger finger being directly below any portion of the action of the weapon when firing; or
  7. A semiautomatic shotgun that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine; or
  8. A shotgun with a revolving cylinder; or
  9. Any semiautomatic firearm that meets the criteria set forth in subdivision (3) or (4) of subsection (a) of section 53-202a of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2013; or
6. A part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert a firearm into an assault weapon, as defined in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (E), inclusive, of this subdivision, or any combination of parts from which an assault weapon, as defined in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (E), inclusive, of this subdivision, may be assembled if those parts are in the possession or under the control of the same person;
"Assault weapon" does not include
1. any firearm modified to render it permanently inoperable, or
2. a part or any combination of parts of an assault weapon, that are not assembled as an assault weapon, when in the possession of a licensed gun dealer, as defined in subsection (f) of section 53-202f, or a gunsmith who is in the licensed gun dealer's employ, for the purposes of servicing or repairing lawfully possessed assault weapons under sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive;
"Action of the weapon" means the part of the firearm that loads, fires and ejects a cartridge, which part includes, but is not limited to, the upper and lower receiver, charging handle, forward assist, magazine release and shell deflector;
"Detachable magazine" means an ammunition feeding device that can be removed without disassembling the firearm action;
"Firearm" means a firearm, as defined in section 53a-3;
"Forward pistol grip" means any feature capable of functioning as a grip that can be held by the nontrigger hand;
"Lawfully possesses" means, with respect to an assault weapon described in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of this subdivision,
1. actual possession that is lawful under sections 53-202b to 53-202k,
2. constructive possession pursuant to a lawful purchase transacted prior to or on April 4, 2013, regardless of whether the assault weapon was delivered to the purchaser prior to or on April 4, 2013, which lawful purchase is evidenced by a writing sufficient to indicate that
  1. a contract for sale was made between the parties prior to or on April 4, 2013, for the purchase of the assault weapon, or
  2. full or partial payment for the assault weapon was made by the purchaser to the seller of the assault weapon prior to or on April 4, 2013, or
3. actual possession under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, or constructive possession under subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, as evidenced by a written statement made under penalty of false statement on such form as the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection prescribes;
"Pistol grip" means a grip or similar feature that can function as a grip for the trigger hand; and
"Second hand grip" means a grip or similar feature that can function as a grip that is additional to the trigger hand grip.

(P.A. 93-306, S. 1; P.A. 01-130, S. 1; P.A. 13-3, S. 25; 13-220, S. 3, 4, 21.)

History: P.A. 01-130 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to Sec. 53a-46a(h), make technical changes in Subdiv. (2) and add Subdivs. (3) and (4) re physical characteristics criteria applicable to definition of "assault weapon" and amended Subsec. (b) to delete reference to Sec. 53a-46a(h); P.A. 13-3 deleted Subsec. (a) designator, redefined "assault weapon" in Subdivs. (1) and (2), deleted former Subsec. (b) re firearm modified to render it permanently inoperable, added definitions of "action of the weapon" in Subdiv. (3), "detachable magazine" in Subdiv. (4), "firearm" in Subdiv. (5), "forward pistol grip" in Subdiv. (6), "lawfully possesses" in Subdiv. (7), "pistol grip" in Subdiv. (8), and "second hand grip" in Subdiv. (9), and made conforming changes, effective April 4, 2013; P.A. 13-220 redefined "assault weapon" in Subdiv. (1)(E)(ix), made a technical change in Subdiv. (2), and redefined "lawfully possesses" in Subdiv. (7), effective June 18, 2013.

1. Any person who, within this state, distributes, transports or imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives any assault weapon, except as provided by sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, as amended by this act, shall be guilty of a class C felony and shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of which two years may not be suspended or reduced by the court.
2. Any person who transfers, sells or gives any assault weapon to a person under eighteen years of age in violation of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of six years, which shall not be suspended or reduced by the court and shall be in addition and consecutive to the term of imprisonment imposed under subdivision (1) of this subsection.
The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to:
1. The sale of assault weapons to:
  1. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, police departments, the Department of Correction, the Division of Criminal Justice, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection or the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States;
  2. a sworn and duly certified member of an organized police department, the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or the Department of Correction, a chief inspector or inspector in the Division of Criminal Justice, a salaried inspector of motor vehicles designated by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, a conservation officer or special conservation officer appointed by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to section 26-5, or a constable who is certified by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council and appointed by the chief executive authority of a town, city or borough to perform criminal law enforcement duties, pursuant to a letter on the letterhead of such department, division, commissioner or authority authorizing the purchase and stating that the sworn member, inspector, officer or constable will use the assault weapon in the discharge of official duties, and that a records check indicates that the sworn member, inspector, officer or constable has not been convicted of a crime of family violence, for use by such sworn member, inspector, officer or constable in the discharge of such sworn member's, inspector's, officer's or constable's official duties or when off duty,
  3. a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States, or
  4. a nuclear facility licensed by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the purpose of providing security services at such facility, or any contractor or subcontractor of such facility for the purpose of providing security services at such facility;
2. A person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that includes an assault weapon for which a certificate of possession has been issued under section 53-202d which is disposed of as authorized by the Probate Court, if the disposition is otherwise permitted by sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive;
3. The transfer of an assault weapon for which a certificate of possession has been issued under section 53-202d, by bequest or intestate succession, or, upon the death of a testator or settlor:
  1. To a trust, or
  2. from a trust to a beneficiary who is eligible to possess the assault weapon;
4. The sale of a semiautomatic pistol that is defined as an assault weapon in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a that the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection designates as being designed expressly for use in target shooting events at the Olympic games sponsored by the International Olympic Committee pursuant to regulations adopted under this subdivision, and for which the purchaser signs a form prescribed by the commissioner and provided by the seller that indicates that the pistol will be used by the purchaser primarily for target shooting practice and events. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to designate semiautomatic pistols that are defined as assault weapons in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a that may be sold pursuant to this subdivision, provided the use of such pistols is sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee and USA Shooting, or any subsequent corresponding governing board for international shooting competition in the United States.

(P.A. 93-306, S. 2; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; P.A. 13-3, S. 26; 13-220, S. 5.)

History: P.A. 11-51, "Department of Public Safety" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection", effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to insert Subpara. (A) and (B) designators and add "for use in the discharge of their official duties or when off duty" in Subpara. (A) and provision re Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensee and subcontractor providing security services in Subpara. (B), and deleted references to Secs. 29-37j and 53a-46a(h) and made technical changes, effective April 4, 2013; P.A. 13-220 substantially revised Subsec. (b)(1), (2) and (3) re permitted sales and transfers and added Subdiv. (4) re sale of pistols that Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection designates in regulations as designed expressly for use at Olympic games, effective June 18, 2013.

Except as provided in section 53-202e, any person who, within this state, possesses an assault weapon, except as provided in sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, and 53-202o, shall be guilty of a class D felony and shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of which one year may not be suspended or reduced by the court, except that a first-time violation of this subsection shall be a class A misdemeanor if
1. the person presents proof that such person lawfully possessed the assault weapon
  1. prior to October 1, 1993, with respect to an assault weapon described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, or
  2. on April 4, 2013, under the provisions of sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, in effect on January 1, 2013, with respect to an assault weapon described in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, and
2. the person has otherwise possessed the assault weapon in compliance with subsection (f) of section 53-202d.
The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the possession of assault weapons by:
1. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, police departments, the Department of Correction, the Division of Criminal Justice, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection or the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States,
2. a sworn and duly certified member of an organized police department, the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or the Department of Correction, a chief inspector or inspector in the Division of Criminal Justice, a salaried inspector of motor vehicles designated by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, a conservation officer or special conservation officer appointed by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to section 26-5, or a constable who is certified by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council and appointed by the chief executive authority of a town, city or borough to perform criminal law enforcement duties, for use by such sworn member, inspector, officer or constable in the discharge of such sworn member's, inspector's, officer's or constable's official duties or when off duty,
3. a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States, or
4. a nuclear facility licensed by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the purpose of providing security services at such facility, or any contractor or subcontractor of such facility for the purpose of providing security services at such facility.
The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the possession of an assault weapon described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a by any person prior to July 1, 1994, if all of the following are applicable:
1. The person is eligible under sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, to apply for a certificate of possession for the assault weapon by July 1, 1994;
2. The person lawfully possessed the assault weapon prior to October 1, 1993; and
3. The person is otherwise in compliance with sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive.
The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the possession of an assault weapon described in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a by any person prior to April 5, 2013, if all of the following are applicable:
1. The person is eligible under sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, to apply for a certificate of possession for the assault weapon by January 1, 2014;
2. The person lawfully possessed the assault weapon on April 4, 2013, under the provisions of sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, in effect on January 1, 2013; and
3. The person is otherwise in compliance with sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive.
The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to a person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that includes an assault weapon, or the trustee of a trust that includes an assault weapon, for which a certificate of possession has been issued under section 53-202d if the assault weapon is possessed at a place set forth in subdivision (1) of subsection (f) of section 53-202d or as authorized by the Probate Court.
The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the possession of a semiautomatic pistol that is defined as an assault weapon in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a that the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection designates as being designed expressly for use in target shooting events at the Olympic games sponsored by the International Olympic Committee pursuant to regulations adopted under subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 53-202b that is
1. possessed and transported in accordance with subsection (f) of section 53-202d, or
2. possessed at or transported to or from a collegiate, Olympic or target pistol shooting competition in this state which is sponsored by, conducted under the auspices of, or approved by a law enforcement agency or a nationally or state recognized entity that fosters proficiency in, or promotes education about, firearms, provided such pistol is transported in the manner prescribed in subsection (a) of section 53-202f.

(P.A. 93-306, S. 3; P.A. 02-120, S. 5; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; P.A. 13-3, S. 27; 13-220, S. 6.)

History: P.A. 02-120 amended Subsec. (a) to add reference to Sec. 53-202o, effective June 7, 2002; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, "Department of Public Safety" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection" in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to designate existing provision re assault weapon lawfully possessed prior to October 1, 1993, as Subpara. (A) and amend same to add reference to description in Sec. 53-202a(1)(A) and add Subpara. (B) re assault weapon described in Sec. 53-202a(1)(B) to (F) and lawfully possessed on April 3, 2013, under Secs. 53-202a to 53-202k in effect on January 1, 2013, amended Subsec. (b) to add exemption for Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensee and subcontractor providing security services, amended Subsec. (c) to add reference to assault weapon described in Sec. 53-202a(1)(A), added Subsec. (d) re assault weapon described in Sec. 53a-202a(1)(B) to (F) and lawfully possessed on April 3, 2013, under Secs. 53-202a to 53-202k in effect on January 1, 2013, redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (e), and deleted references to Secs. 29-37j and 53a-46a(h) and made technical and conforming changes, effective April 4, 2013; P.A. 13-220 substantially revised Subsec. (b) re persons permitted to possess assault weapons, amended Subsec. (e) re trust that includes an assault weapon, and added Subsec. (f) re possession of semiautomatic pistol designated in regulations adopted under Sec. 53-202b(b)(4) as Olympic pistols, effective June 18, 2013.

1. 1. Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, any person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon, as defined in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, prior to October 1, 1993, shall apply by October 1, 1994, or, if such person is a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States and is unable to apply by October 1, 1994, because such member is or was on official duty outside of this state, shall apply within ninety days of returning to the state to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, for a certificate of possession with respect to such assault weapon.
  2. No person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon pursuant to subdivision (1), (2) or (4) of subsection (b) of section 53-202c shall be required to obtain a certificate of possession pursuant to this subdivision with respect to an assault weapon used for official duties, except that any person described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 53-202c who purchases an assault weapon, as defined in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, for use in the discharge of official duties who retires or is otherwise separated from service shall apply within ninety days of such retirement or separation from service to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a certificate of possession with respect to such assault weapon.
2. 1. Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, any person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon, as defined in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, on April 4, 2013, under the provisions of sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, in effect on January 1, 2013, or any person who regains possession of an assault weapon as defined in any provision of said subparagraphs pursuant to subsection (e) of section 53-202f, or any person who lawfully purchases a firearm on or after April 4, 2013, but prior to June 18, 2013, that meets the criteria set forth in subdivision (3) or (4) of subsection (a) of section 53-202a of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2013, shall apply by January 1, 2014, or, if such person is a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States and is unable to apply by January 1, 2014, because such member is or was on official duty outside of this state, shall apply within ninety days of returning to the state to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a certificate of possession with respect to such assault weapon. Any person who lawfully purchases a semiautomatic pistol that is defined as an assault weapon in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a that the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection designates as being designed expressly for use in target shooting events at the Olympic games sponsored by the International Olympic Committee pursuant to regulations adopted under subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 53-202b shall apply within ninety days of such purchase to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a certificate of possession with respect to such assault weapon.
  2. No person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon pursuant to subdivision (1), (2) or (4) of subsection (b) of section 53-202c shall be required to obtain a certificate of possession pursuant to this subdivision with respect to an assault weapon used for official duties, except that any person described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 53-202c who purchases an assault weapon, as defined in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a for use in the discharge of official duties who retires or is otherwise separated from service shall apply within ninety days of such retirement or separation from service to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a certificate of possession with respect to such assault weapon.
3. Any person who obtained a certificate of possession for an assault weapon, as defined in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, prior to April 5, 2013, that is defined as an assault weapon pursuant to any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a shall be deemed to have obtained a certificate of possession for such assault weapon for the purposes of sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, and shall not be required to obtain a subsequent certificate of possession for such assault weapon.
4. The certificate of possession shall contain a description of the firearm that identifies it uniquely, including all identification marks, the full name, address, date of birth and thumbprint of the owner, and any other information as the department may deem appropriate.
5. The department shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish procedures with respect to the application for and issuance of certificates of possession pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1-210 and 1-211, the name and address of a person issued a certificate of possession shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed, except such records may be disclosed to
  1. law enforcement agencies and employees of the United States Probation Office acting in the performance of their duties and parole officers within the Department of Correction acting in the performance of their duties, and
  2. the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to carry out the provisions of subsection (c) of section 17a-500.
1. No assault weapon, as defined in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, possessed pursuant to a certificate of possession issued under this section may be sold or transferred on or after January 1, 1994, to any person within this state other than to a licensed gun dealer, as defined in subsection (f) of section 53-202f, or as provided in section 53-202e, or by bequest or intestate succession, or, upon the death of a testator or settlor:
  1. to a trust, or
  2. from a trust to a beneficiary who is eligible to possess the assault weapon.
2. No assault weapon, as defined in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, possessed pursuant to a certificate of possession issued under this section may be sold or transferred on or after April 5, 2013, to any person within this state other than to a licensed gun dealer, as defined in subsection (f) of section 53-202f, or as provided in section 53-202e, or by bequest or intestate succession, or, upon the death of a testator or settlor:
  1. to a trust, or
  2. from a trust to a beneficiary who is eligible to possess the assault weapon.
Any person who obtains title to an assault weapon for which a certificate of possession has been issued under this section by bequest or intestate succession shall, within ninety days of obtaining title, apply to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a certificate of possession as provided in subsection (a) of this section, render the assault weapon permanently inoperable, sell the assault weapon to a licensed gun dealer or remove the assault weapon from the state.
Any person who moves into the state in lawful possession of an assault weapon, shall, within ninety days, either render the assault weapon permanently inoperable, sell the assault weapon to a licensed gun dealer or remove the assault weapon from this state, except that any person who is a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States, is in lawful possession of an assault weapon and has been transferred into the state after October 1, 1994, may, within ninety days of arriving in the state, apply to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a certificate of possession with respect to such assault weapon.
If an owner of an assault weapon sells or transfers the assault weapon to a licensed gun dealer, such dealer shall, at the time of delivery of the assault weapon, execute a certificate of transfer and cause the certificate of transfer to be mailed or delivered to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. The certificate of transfer shall contain:
1. The date of sale or transfer;
2. the name and address of the seller or transferor and the licensed gun dealer, their Social Security numbers or motor vehicle operator license numbers, if applicable;
3. the licensed gun dealer's federal firearms license number and seller's permit number;
4. a description of the assault weapon, including the caliber of the assault weapon and its make, model and serial number; and
5. any other information the commissioner prescribes. The licensed gun dealer shall present such dealer's motor vehicle operator's license or Social Security card, federal firearms license and seller's permit to the seller or transferor for inspection at the time of purchase or transfer. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall maintain a file of all certificates of transfer at the commissioner's central office.
Any person who has been issued a certificate of possession for an assault weapon under this section may possess the assault weapon only under the following conditions:
1. At that person's residence, place of business or other property owned by that person, or on property owned by another person with the owner's express permission;
2. While on the premises of a target range of a public or private club or organization organized for the purpose of practicing shooting at targets;
3. While on a target range which holds a regulatory or business license for the purpose of practicing shooting at that target range;
4. While on the premises of a licensed shooting club;
5. While attending any exhibition, display or educational project which is about firearms and which is sponsored by, conducted under the auspices of, or approved by a law enforcement agency or a nationally or state recognized entity that fosters proficiency in, or promotes education about, firearms;
6. While transporting the assault weapon between any of the places set forth in this subsection, or to any licensed gun dealer, as defined in subsection (f) of section 53-202f, for servicing or repair pursuant to subsection (c) of section 53-202f, provided the assault weapon is transported as required by section 53-202f;
7. With respect to a nonresident of this state, while transporting a semiautomatic pistol that is defined as an assault weapon in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a that the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection designates as being designed expressly for use in target shooting events at the Olympic games sponsored by the International Olympic Committee pursuant to regulations adopted under subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 53-202b, into or through this state in order to attend any exhibition, display or educational project described in subdivision (5) of this subsection, or to participate in a collegiate, Olympic or target pistol shooting competition in this state which is sponsored by, conducted under the auspices of, or approved by a law enforcement agency or a nationally or state recognized entity that fosters proficiency in, or promotes education about, firearms, provided
  1. such pistol is transported into or through this state not more than forty-eight hours prior to or after such exhibition, display, project or competition,
  2. such pistol is unloaded and carried in a locked carrying case and the ammunition for such pistol is carried in a separate locked container,
  3. such nonresident has not been convicted of a felony in this state or of an offense in another state that would constitute a felony if committed in this state, and
  4. such nonresident has in his or her possession a pistol permit or firearms registration card if such permit or card is required for possession of such pistol under the laws of his or her state of residence.

(P.A. 93-306, S. 4; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 19, 20; P.A. 98-129, S. 8; P.A. 11-51, S. 170; P.A. 12-177, S. 3; P.A. 13-3, S. 28; 13-220, S. 7, 8; 2015, P.A. 15.216, S.5.)

History: July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 amended Subsec. (a) to extend from July 1, 1994, to October 1, 1994, the deadline for applying for a certificate of possession and add provision requiring any member of the military or naval forces who is unable to apply by said date due to official duty outside of the state to apply within 90 days of returning to the state and amended Subsec. (b) to add exception authorizing any member of the military or naval forces in lawful possession of an assault weapon who is transferred into the state after October 1, 1994 to apply for a certificate of possession within 90 days of arriving in the state, effective July 7, 1994; P.A. 98-129 added Subsec. (a)(2) authorizing disclosure of such records to the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to carry out the provisions of Sec. 17a-500(c); P.A. 11-51 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Safety with Commissioner and Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-177 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to add provision re disclosure of information to employees of the U.S. Probation Office acting in performance of their duties; P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (a) to designate existing provisions as Subdivs. (1), (4) and (5), add reference to Sec. 53-202a(1)(A) definition in Subdiv. (1), add Subdiv. (2) re assault weapon defined in Sec. 53-202a(1)(B) to (F) lawfully possessed under Secs. 53-202a to 53-202k in effect on January 1, 2013, and add Subdiv. (3) re person who obtained certificate of possession prior to April 4, 2013, to be deemed to have obtained certificate for weapon and not to be required to obtain subsequent certificate, amended Subsec. (b) to designate existing provisions re sale or transfer as Subdiv. (1), add reference to definition in Sec. 53-202a(1)(A) therein, add Subdiv. (2) re sale of assault weapon defined in Sec. 53-202a(1)(B) to (F) possessed pursuant to a certificate of possession, and designate existing provisions re obtaining title by bequest or intestate succession as new Subsec. (c) and re person moving into state as new Subsec. (d), redesignated existing Subsecs. (c) and (d) as Subsecs. (e) and (f), and made technical and conforming changes, effective April 4, 2013; P.A. 13-220 amended Subsec. (a) to add Subpara. (B) re exception from certificate of possession requirement for persons listed in Sec. 53-202c(b)(1), (2) or (4), except upon retirement or separation from service re assault weapon purchased for official use, in Subdivs. (1) and (2), and to add provisions re person who regains possession of an assault weapon or who purchases a firearm on or after April 4, 2013, but prior to June 18, 2013, and re certificates of possession for Olympic pistols in Subdiv. (2), amended Subsec. (b) to add provisions re transfer upon death of testator or settlor, amended Subsec. (f) to add Subdiv. (7) re transport by nonresident of semiautomatic pistol designated in regulations adopted under Sec. 53-202b(b)(4) as Olympic pistols, and made technical and conforming changes, effective June 18, 2013.

Any individual may arrange in advance to relinquish an assault weapon to a police department or the Department of Public Safety. The assault weapon shall be transported in accordance with the provisions of section 53-202f.

(P.A. 93-306, S. 5.)

Cited. 234 C. 455. Cited. 242 C. 143.

While transporting an assault weapon between any of the places set forth in subdivisions (1) to (6), inclusive, of subsection (f) of section 53-202d, no person shall carry a loaded assault weapon concealed from public view or knowingly have, in any motor vehicle owned, operated or occupied by such person
1. a loaded assault weapon, or
2. an unloaded assault weapon unless such weapon is kept in the trunk of such vehicle or in a case or other container which is inaccessible to the operator of such vehicle or any passenger in such vehicle. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a member, inspector, officer or constable that possesses an assault weapon pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 53-202c. Any person who violates the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a class E felony.
Any licensed gun dealer, as defined in subsection (f) of this section, who lawfully possesses an assault weapon pursuant to section 53-202d, in addition to the uses allowed in section 53-202d, may transport the assault weapon between dealers or out of the state, display the assault weapon at any gun show licensed by a state or local governmental entity or sell the assault weapon to a resident outside the state. Any transporting of the assault weapon allowed by this subsection must be done as required by subsection (a) of this section.
1. Any licensed gun dealer, as defined in subsection (f) of this section, or a federally-licensed firearm manufacturer may take possession of any assault weapon for the purposes of servicing or repair from any person to whom has been issued a certificate of possession for such weapon pursuant to sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive.
2. Any licensed gun dealer may transfer possession of any assault weapon received pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection to a gunsmith for purposes of accomplishing service or repair of the same. Such transfers are permissible only to the following persons:
  1. A gunsmith who is in the licensed gun dealer's employ; or
  2. A gunsmith with whom the dealer has contracted for gunsmithing services, provided the gunsmith receiving the assault weapon holds a dealer's license issued pursuant to Chapter 44, commencing with Section 921, of Title 18 of the United States Code and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.
Not later than December 31, 2013, any person who lawfully possessed an assault weapon described in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a on April 4, 2013, which was lawful under the provisions of sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, in effect on January 1, 2013, may transfer possession of the assault weapon to a licensed gun dealer within or outside of this state for sale outside of this state, and may transport the assault weapon to such dealer for the purpose of making such transfer, without obtaining a certificate of possession under section 53-202d.
Not later than October 1, 2013, any licensed gun dealer, pawnbroker licensed under section 21-40, or consignment shop operator, as defined in section 21-39a, may transfer possession of an assault weapon to any person who
1. legally possessed the assault weapon prior to or on April 4, 2013,
2. placed the assault weapon in the possession of such dealer, pawnbroker or operator prior to or on April 4, 2013, pursuant to an agreement between such person and such dealer, pawnbroker or operator for the sale of the assault weapon to a third person, and
3. is eligible to possess a firearm on the date of such transfer.
The term "licensed gun dealer", as used in sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, means a person who has a federal firearms license and a permit to sell firearms pursuant to section 29-28.

(P.A. 93-306, S. 6; P.A. 13-3, S. 29; 13-220, S. 9; 13-258, S. 29.)

History: (Revisor's note: In Subdiv. (2)(B) of Subsec. (c) the words "with whom" were substituted for "who" editorially by the Revisors for grammatical accuracy); P.A. 13-3 deleted references to Secs. 29-37j and 53a-46a(h) and made technical changes, effective April 4, 2013; P.A. 13-220 amended Subsec. (a) to add provision exempting member, inspector, officer or constable possessing an assault weapon under Sec. 53-202c(b)(2), amended Subsec. (c)(1) to add reference to federally-licensed firearm manufacturer, added new Subsec. (d) re transfer of assault weapon to licensed gun dealer not later than December 31, 2013, added Subsec. (e) re licensed gun dealer, pawnbroker or consignment shop operator permitted to transfer assault weapon not later than October 1, 2013, to person who legally possessed same prior to or on April 4, 2013, redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (f), and made conforming changes, effective June 18, 2013; P.A. 13-258 amended Subsec. (a) to change penalty from fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment of not more than 3 years to a class E felony.

Any person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon under sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, or a firearm, as defined in section 53a-3, that is lost or stolen from such person shall report the loss or theft to the organized local police department for the town in which the loss or theft occurred or, if such town does not have an organized local police department, to the state police troop having jurisdiction for such town within seventy-two hours of when such person discovered or should have discovered the loss or theft. Such department or troop shall forthwith forward a copy of such report to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the loss or theft of an antique firearm as defined in section 29-37a.
Any person who fails to make a report required by subsection (a) of this section, within the prescribed time period shall commit an infraction and be fined not more than ninety dollars for a first offense and be guilty of a class C felony for any subsequent offense, except that, if such person intentionally fails to make such report within the prescribed time period, such person shall be guilty of a class B felony. Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section for the first offense shall not lose such person's right to hold or obtain any firearm permit under the general statutes.

(P.A. 93-306, S. 7; P.A. 07-163, S. 1; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; P.A. 13-3, S. 12, 50.)

History: P.A. 07-163 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended same to make provisions applicable to "a firearm, as defined in section 53a-3" and assault weapons or firearms that are "lost or stolen", rather than "stolen", require person to report loss or theft to "the organized local police department for the town in which the loss or theft occurred or, if such town does not have an organized local police department, to the state police troop having jurisdiction for such town", rather than to "law enforcement authorities", require department to forthwith forward a copy of report to Commissioner of Public Safety and exclude loss or theft of an antique firearm from reporting requirement and added Subsec. (b) to establish as the penalty an infraction for a first offense and a class D felony for a subsequent offense for failing to make report within prescribed time period and a class C felony for intentionally failing to make report within prescribed time period and provide that violation of Subsec. (a) shall not cause a person to lose right to hold or obtain any firearm permit; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, "Commissioner of Public Safety" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection" in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (a) to delete references to Secs. 29-37j and 53a-46a(h) and make a technical change, effective April 4, 2013, and amended Subsec. (b) to change penalty for subsequent offense from a class D felony to a class C felony and change penalty for intentional failure to make a report from a class C felony to a class B felony, effective October 1, 2013.

The provisions of subsection (a) of section 53-202b and subsection (a) of section 53-202c shall not apply to the temporary transfer or possession of an assault weapon, for which a certificate of possession has been issued pursuant to section 53-202d, for purposes of transporting such weapon to and from any shooting competition or exhibition, display or educational project which is about firearms and which is sponsored by, conducted under the auspices of, or approved by a law enforcement agency or a nationally or state recognized entity that fosters proficiency in, or promotes education about, firearms, which competition, exhibition, display or educational project is held outside this state.

(P.A. 93-306, S. 10.)

Cited. 234 C. 455. Cited. 242 C. 143.

Nothing in sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, shall be construed to prohibit a federally-licensed firearm manufacturer engaged in the business of manufacturing assault weapons in this state from

manufacturing or transporting assault weapons in this state for sale within this state in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 53-202b or for sale outside this state, or
transporting and temporarily transferring assault weapons to and from a third party for the sole purpose of permitting the third party to perform a function in the manufacturing production process.

(P.A. 93-306, S. 11; P.A. 13-3, S. 30; 13-220, S. 10.)

History: P.A. 13-3 deleted references to Secs. 29-37j and 53a-46a(h), effective April 4, 2013; P.A. 13-220 substituted "federally-licensed firearm manufacturer" for "person, firm or corporation", designated existing provisions re manufacture and transport as Subdiv. (1) and added Subdiv. (2) re transporting and temporarily transferring assault weapons to third party to perform function in manufacturing production process, effective June 18, 2013.

Any person who commits any class A, B or C felony and in the commission of such felony uses, or is armed with and threatens the use of, or displays, or represents by his words or conduct that he possesses an assault weapon, as defined in section 53-202a, shall be imprisoned for a term of eight years, which shall not be suspended or reduced and shall be in addition and consecutive to any term of imprisonment imposed for conviction of such felony.

(P.A. 93-306, S. 8.)

Cited. 234 C. 455. Cited. 242 C. 143.

Any person who commits any class A, B or C felony and in the commission of such felony uses, or is armed with and threatens the use of, or displays, or represents by his words or conduct that he possesses any firearm, as defined in section 53a-3, except an assault weapon, as defined in section 53-202a, shall be imprisoned for a term of five years, which shall not be suspended or reduced and shall be in addition and consecutive to any term of imprisonment imposed for conviction of such felony.

(P.A. 93-306, S. 9.)

Cited. 234 C. 455. Cited. 241 C. 665. Section is a sentence enhancer rather than a separate offense; a separate conviction under section is improper. 242 C. 143. When jury convicts based on an underlying felony, jury must also determine issue of whether a firearm was used in commission of the felony. 253 C. 210. Unarmed accomplice is subject to an enhanced penalty under this section. 255 C. 782. Where court failed to instruct jury as to elements of statute which provided for enhancement of sentence, enhanced sentence was vacated and case remanded for trial on that issue. 256 C. 785. Based on plain language of section, its legislative history, and prior court decisions interpreting its provisions, application of sentence enhancement to manslaughter in the first degree with a firearm, a class B felony, does not violate double jeopardy. 257 C. 544. Based on section's language and its legislative history, trial court properly applied section's sentence enhancement to defendant's split sentence. Id. State need not prove that firearm was capable of discharging a shot to apply statute as sentence enhancement. 259 C. 799. Section imposes separate enhancements of five years each where defendant is convicted of multiple qualifying felonies arising from the same incident. 263 C. 136. Possession of firearm by one coconspirator is not attributable to other coconspirators for purposes of the enhancement statute. 276 C. 452.

Cited. 43 CA 801. Cited. 44 CA 561. Cited. 48 CA 361. Since section is sentence enhancement provision and not a separate crime, conviction under section must be vacated. 49 CA 420. Trial court improperly rendered judgment convicting defendant of the crime of commission of class A, B or C felony with a firearm because statute does not establish a separate criminal offense but is a sentence enhancement provision. 51 CA 171. Section intended to serve as sentence enhancement provision, not as a separate crime. Id., 541. Reaffirmed ruling that statute is sentence enhancement provision and not a separate crime. 52 CA 599. Reaffirmed prior holdings that statute is sentence enhancement provision and not a separate crime. 54 CA 18. Under this section, state is not required to demonstrate that defendant actually has gun, but that defendant represented, by words or conduct, that he was holding a gun. 60 CA 487. Failure to instruct jury re elements of statute was harmless error, since evidence against defendant was overwhelming and uncontested, and not violative of due process. 61 CA 417. Trial court determination that defendant fulfilled requirements of sentence enhancement pursuant to this statute results in harmless error if jury would have, upon proper instruction, reached the same determination. 65 CA 551. Statute permits multiple enhancements. 69 CA 717. Failure of court to instruct jury that finding defendant used a firearm was harmless error where state has proven the elements necessary for the sentence enhancement. 74 CA 129. Plaintiff's claim that trial court did not put issue of enhancement under statute to the jury was harmless error since verdict required finding that the murder was committed with a firearm. Id., 391. Court declines to create a presumption of prosecutorial vindictiveness when the state seeks sentence enhancement pursuant to this section after defendant elects a jury trial. Sentence enhancement pursuant to this section not treated as essential element of the statute and state need only prove to jury the two elements of the statute and is not required to prove that length of defendant's incarceration should be increased. 81 CA 824. Legislature's use of "shall" in section, coupled with precedent, amply supports conclusion that legislature intended sentence enhancement to apply to conviction under Sec. 53a-59(a)(5). 90 CA 445. Since section is a sentence enhancement provision and not a separate offense, conviction under section must be vacated. 94 CA 715. Trial court properly applied sentence enhancement provisions of section in a matter where defendant knowingly and voluntarily pled nolo contendere to section's provisions; in doing so defendant waived his right to a jury determination of the facts with respect to that charge. 103 CA 100.

For the purposes of this section:
1. "Armor piercing bullet" means
  1. any .50 caliber bullet that (i) is designed for the purpose of, (ii) is held out by the manufacturer or distributor as, or (iii) is generally recognized as having a specialized capability to penetrate armor or bulletproof glass, including, but not limited to, such bullets commonly designated as "M2 Armor-Piercing" or "AP", "M8 Armor-Piercing Incendiary" or "API", "M20 Armor-Piercing Incendiary Tracer" or "APIT", "M903 Caliber .50 Saboted Light Armor Penetrator" or "SLAP", or "M962 Saboted Light Armor Penetrator Tracer" or "SLAPT", or
  2. any bullet that can be fired from a pistol or revolver that (i) has projectiles or projectile cores constructed entirely, excluding the presence of traces of other substances, from tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper or depleted uranium, or (ii) is fully jacketed with a jacket weight of more than twenty-five per cent of the total weight of the projectile, is larger than .22 caliber and is designed and intended for use in a firearm, and (iii) does not have projectiles whose cores are composed of soft materials such as lead or lead alloys, zinc or zinc alloys, frangible projectiles designed primarily for sporting purposes, or any other projectiles or projectile cores that the Attorney General of the United States finds to be primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes or industrial purposes or that otherwise does not constitute "armor piercing ammunition" as defined in federal law. "Armor piercing bullet" does not include a shotgun shell.
2. "Incendiary .50 caliber bullet" means any .50 caliber bullet that is
  1. designed for the purpose of,
  2. held out by the manufacturer or distributor as, or
  3. generally recognized as having a specialized capability to ignite upon impact, including, but not limited to, such bullets commonly designated as "M1 Incendiary", "M23 Incendiary", "M8 Armor-Piercing Incendiary" or "API", or "M20 Armor-Piercing Incendiary Tracer" or "APIT".
Any person who knowingly distributes, transports or imports into the state, keeps for sale or offers or exposes for sale or gives to any person any ammunition that is an armor piercing .50 caliber bullet or an incendiary .50 caliber bullet shall be guilty of a class D felony, except that a first-time violation of this subsection shall be a class A misdemeanor.
Any person who knowingly transports or carries a firearm with an armor piercing bullet or incendiary .50 caliber bullet loaded shall be guilty of a class D felony.
The provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall not apply to the following:
1. The sale of such ammunition to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, police departments, the Department of Correction or the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States for use in the discharge of their official duties;
2. A sworn and duly certified member of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or a police department when transporting or carrying a firearm with an armor piercing bullet or incendiary .50 caliber bullet loaded;
3. A person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that includes such ammunition that is disposed of as authorized by the Probate Court; or
4. The transfer of such ammunition by bequest or intestate succession, or, upon the death of a testator or settlor:
  1. to a trust, or
  2. from a trust to a beneficiary who is eligible to possess such ammunition.
If the court finds that a violation of this section is not of a serious nature and that the person charged with such violation (1) will probably not offend in the future, (2) has not previously been convicted of a violation of this section, and (3) has not previously had a prosecution under this section suspended pursuant to this subsection, it may order suspension of prosecution in accordance with the provisions of subsection (h) of section 29-33.

(P.A. 01-130, S. 2; P.A. 03-19, S. 122; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; P.A. 13-3, S. 32; 13-220, S. 17.)

History: P.A. 03-19 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), effective May 12, 2003; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, "Department of Public Safety" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection" in Subsec. (c)(1), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to replace definition of "armor piercing .50 caliber bullet" with definition of "armor piercing bullet", added new Subsec. (c) re class D felony for knowingly transporting or carrying firearm with armor piercing bullet or incendiary .50 caliber bullet loaded, redesignated existing Subsecs. (c) and (d) as Subsecs. (d) and (e), and made technical changes, effective April 4, 2013; P.A. 13-220 amended Subsec. (d) to add new Subdiv. (2) re sworn and duly certified member of Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or police department when transporting or carrying firearm with bullet loaded, redesignate existing Subdivs. (2) and (3) as Subdivs. (3) and (4) and amend redesignated Subdiv. (4) to make a technical change and allow transfer upon death of testator or settlor to a trust or from a trust to an eligible beneficiary.

Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, sections 53-202a to 53-202l, inclusive, shall not be construed to limit the transfer or require the registration of an assault weapon as defined in subdivision (3) or (4) of subsection (a) of section 53-202a of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2013, provided such firearm was legally manufactured prior to September 13, 1994.

(P.A. 01-130, S. 3; P.A. 13-220, S. 11.)

History: P.A. 13-220 added "revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2013" re Sec. 53-202a(a)(3) or (4), effective June 18, 2013.

For the purposes of subsection (a) of section 53-202c, this section and section 53-202o, "specified assault weapon" means any of the following firearms: Auto-Ordnance Thompson type, Avtomat Kalashnikov AK-47 type, or MAC-10, MAC-11 and MAC-11 Carbine type.
The provisions of subsection (a) of section 53-202c shall not apply to any person who
1. in good faith purchased or otherwise obtained title to a specified assault weapon on or after October 1, 1993, and prior to May 8, 2002, in compliance with any state and federal laws concerning the purchase or transfer of firearms,
2. is not otherwise disqualified or prohibited from possessing such specified assault weapon, and
3. has notified the Department of Public Safety in accordance with subsection (c) of this section prior to October 1, 2003, that he or she possesses such specified assault weapon.
A person complies with the notice requirement of subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this section if such person provides the Department of Public Safety with:
1. A copy of the proof of purchase for such specified assault weapon, and
2. one of the following:
  1. A copy of state form DPS-3 with respect to such specified assault weapon,
  2. a copy of federal ATF Form 4473 with respect to such specified assault weapon, or
  3. a sworn affidavit from such person that such specified assault weapon was purchased in compliance with any state and federal laws concerning the purchase or transfer of firearms; except that, if such person does not have a copy of the proof of purchase for such specified assault weapon, such person may satisfy the requirement of subdivision (1) of this subsection by, not later than January 1, 2003, providing such information as the department may require on a form prescribed by the department together with a sworn affidavit from such person that such specified assault weapon was purchased in compliance with any state and federal laws concerning the purchase or transfer of firearms.
Any person who is a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States and is unable to meet the notice requirements of subdivision (3) of subsection (b) and of subsection (c) of this section by October 1, 2003, because such person is or was on official duty outside this state, may file such notice within ninety days of returning to the state.
As proof that a person has complied with the notice requirement of this section and that such notice has been received by the Department of Public Safety, the department shall issue a certificate of possession for such specified assault weapon. Such certificate shall contain a description of the firearm that identifies it uniquely, including all identification marks, and the full name, address and date of birth of the owner.

(P.A. 02-120, S. 3.)

History: P.A. 02-120 effective June 7, 2002.

In any prosecution for a violation of section 53-202c based on the possession by the defendant of a specified assault weapon, it shall be an affirmative defense that the defendant
1. in good faith purchased or otherwise obtained title to such specified assault weapon on or after October 1, 1993, and prior to May 8, 2002, in compliance with any state and federal laws concerning the purchase or transfer of firearms,
2. is not otherwise disqualified or prohibited from possessing such specified assault weapon, and
3. has possessed such specified assault weapon in compliance with subsection (f) of section 53-202d.
In any such prosecution, if such defendant proves such affirmative defense by a preponderance of the evidence, the specified assault weapon shall be returned to such defendant upon such defendant notifying the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection in accordance with subdivision (3) of subsection (b) and of subsection (c) of section 53-202n and obtaining a certificate of possession, provided such notification is made not later than October 1, 2003.

(P.A. 02-120, S. 4; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; P.A. 13-3, S. 31.)

History: P.A. 02-120 effective June 7, 2002; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, "Department of Public Safety" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection" in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-3 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective April 4, 2013.

As used in this section and section 53-202x:
1. "Large capacity magazine" means any firearm magazine, belt, drum, feed strip or similar device that has the capacity of, or can be readily restored or converted to accept, more than ten rounds of ammunition, but does not include: (A) A feeding device that has been permanently altered so that it cannot accommodate more than ten rounds of ammunition, (B) a .22 caliber tube ammunition feeding device, (C) a tubular magazine that is contained in a lever-action firearm, or (D) a magazine that is permanently inoperable;
2. "Lawfully possesses", with respect to a large capacity magazine, means that a person has (A) actual and lawful possession of the large capacity magazine, (B) constructive possession of the large capacity magazine pursuant to a lawful purchase of a firearm that contains a large capacity magazine that was transacted prior to or on April 4, 2013, regardless of whether the firearm was delivered to the purchaser prior to or on April 4, 2013, which lawful purchase is evidenced by a writing sufficient to indicate that (i) a contract for sale was made between the parties prior to or on April 4, 2013, for the purchase of the firearm, or (ii) full or partial payment for the firearm was made by the purchaser to the seller of the firearm prior to or on April 4, 2013, or (C) actual possession under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, or constructive possession under subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, as evidenced by a written statement made under penalty of false statement on such form as the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection prescribes; and
3. "Licensed gun dealer" means a person who has a federal firearms license and a permit to sell firearms pursuant to section 29-28.
Except as provided in this section, on and after April 5, 2013, any person who, within this state, distributes, imports into this state, keeps for sale, offers or exposes for sale, or purchases a large capacity magazine shall be guilty of a class D felony. On and after April 5, 2013, any person who, within this state, transfers a large capacity magazine, except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, shall be guilty of a class D felony.
Except as provided in this section and section 53-202x: (1) Any person who possesses a large capacity magazine on or after January 1, 2014, that was obtained prior to April 5, 2013, shall commit an infraction and be fined not more than ninety dollars for a first offense and shall be guilty of a class D felony for any subsequent offense, and (2) any person who possesses a large capacity magazine on or after January 1, 2014, that was obtained on or after April 5, 2013, shall be guilty of a class D felony.
A large capacity magazine may be possessed, purchased or imported by:
1. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, police departments, the Department of Correction, the Division of Criminal Justice, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection or the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States;
2. A sworn and duly certified member of an organized police department, the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or the Department of Correction, a chief inspector or inspector in the Division of Criminal Justice, a salaried inspector of motor vehicles designated by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, a conservation officer or special conservation officer appointed by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to section 26-5, or a constable who is certified by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council and appointed by the chief executive authority of a town, city or borough to perform criminal law enforcement duties, for use by such sworn member, inspector, officer or constable in the discharge of such sworn member's, inspector's, officer's or constable's official duties or when off duty;
3. A member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States;
4. A nuclear facility licensed by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the purpose of providing security services at such facility, or any contractor or subcontractor of such facility for the purpose of providing security services at such facility;
5. Any person who is sworn and acts as a policeman on behalf of an armored car service pursuant to section 29-20 in the discharge of such person's official duties; or
6. Any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of manufacturing large capacity magazines in this state that manufactures, purchases, tests or transports large capacity magazines in this state for sale within this state to persons specified in subdivisions (1) to (5), inclusive, of this subsection or for sale outside this state, or a federally-licensed firearm manufacturer engaged in the business of manufacturing firearms or large capacity magazines in this state that manufactures, purchases, tests or transports firearms or large capacity magazines in this state for sale within this state to persons specified in subdivisions (1) to (5), inclusive, of this subsection or for sale outside this state.
A large capacity magazine may be possessed by:
1. A licensed gun dealer;
2. A gunsmith who is in a licensed gun dealer's employ, who possesses such large capacity magazine for the purpose of servicing or repairing a lawfully possessed large capacity magazine;
3. A person, firm, corporation or federally-licensed firearm manufacturer described in subdivision (6) of subsection (d) of this section that possesses a large capacity magazine that is lawfully possessed by another person for the purpose of servicing or repairing the large capacity magazine;
4. Any person who has declared possession of the magazine pursuant to section 53-202x; or
5. Any person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that includes a large capacity magazine, or the trustee of a trust that includes a large capacity magazine, the possession of which has been declared to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection pursuant to section 53-202x, which is disposed of as authorized by the Probate Court, if the disposition is otherwise permitted by this section and section 53-202x.
Subsection (b) of this section shall not prohibit:
1. The transfer of a large capacity magazine, the possession of which has been declared to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection pursuant to section 53-202x, by bequest or intestate succession, or, upon the death of a testator or settlor: (A) To a trust, or (B) from a trust to a beneficiary;
2. The transfer of a large capacity magazine to a police department or the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection;
3. The transfer of a large capacity magazine to a licensed gun dealer in accordance with section 53-202x; or
4. The transfer of a large capacity magazine prior to October 1, 2013, from a licensed gun dealer, pawnbroker licensed under section 21-40, or consignment shop operator, as defined in section 21-39a, to any person who (A) possessed the large capacity magazine prior to or on April 4, 2013, (B) placed a firearm that such person legally possessed, with the large capacity magazine included or attached, in the possession of such dealer, pawnbroker or operator prior to or on April 4, 2013, pursuant to an agreement between such person and such dealer, pawnbroker or operator for the sale of the firearm to a third person, and (C) is eligible to possess the firearm on the date of such transfer.
If the court finds that a violation of this section is not of a serious nature and that the person charged with such violation (1) will probably not offend in the future, (2) has not previously been convicted of a violation of this section, and (3) has not previously had a prosecution under this section suspended pursuant to this subsection, it may order suspension of prosecution in accordance with the provisions of subsection (h) of section 29-33.

(P.A. 13-3, S. 23; 13-220, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 13-3 effective April 4, 2013; P.A. 13-220 amended Subsec. (a)(2) to redefine "lawfully possesses", amended Subsec. (d) to substantially revise list of persons permitted to possess, purchase or import a large capacity magazine, amended Subsec. (e) to insert new Subdiv. (3) re possession for purpose of repair, redesignate existing Subdivs. (3) and (4) as Subdivs. (4) and (5) and add provision re trust that includes a magazine in redesignated Subdiv. (5), amended Subsec. (f) to add provision re transfer by bequest, intestate succession or upon death of testator or settlor in Subdiv. (1) and add Subdiv. (4) re licensed gun dealer, pawnbroker or consignment shop operator permitted to transfer magazine not later than October 1, 2013, to person who legally possessed same prior to or on April 4, 2013, and made technical and conforming changes, effective June 18, 2013.

1. Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, any person who lawfully possesses a large capacity magazine prior to January 1, 2014, shall apply by January 1, 2014, or, if such person is a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States and is unable to apply by January 1, 2014, because such member is or was on official duty outside of this state, shall apply within ninety days of returning to the state to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to declare possession of such magazine. Such application shall be made on such form or in such manner as the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection prescribes.
2. No person who lawfully possesses a large capacity magazine pursuant to subdivision (1), (2), (4) or (5) of subsection (d) of section 53-202w shall be required to declare possession of a large capacity magazine pursuant to this section with respect to a large capacity magazine used for official duties, except that any such person who retires or is otherwise separated from service who possesses a large capacity magazine that was purchased or obtained by such person for official use before such person retired or separated from service shall declare possession of the large capacity magazine within ninety days of such retirement or separation from service to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. No person that lawfully possesses a large capacity magazine pursuant to subdivision (6) of subsection (d) of section 53-202w shall be required to declare possession of such large capacity magazine.
In addition to the application form prescribed under subsection (a) of this section, the department shall design or amend the application forms for a certificate of possession for an assault weapon under section 53-202d or for a permit to carry a pistol or revolver under section 29-28a, a long gun eligibility certificate under section 29-37p, an eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver under section 29-36f or any renewal of such permit or certificate to permit an applicant to declare possession of a large capacity magazine pursuant to this section upon the same application.
The department may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish procedures with respect to applications under this section. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1-210 and 1-211, the name and address of a person who has declared possession of a large capacity magazine shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed, except such records may be disclosed to (1) law enforcement agencies and employees of the United States Probation Office acting in the performance of their duties and parole officers within the Department of Correction acting in the performance of their duties, and (2) the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to carry out the provisions of subsection (c) of section 17a-500.
Any person who moves into the state in lawful possession of a large capacity magazine shall, within ninety days, either render the large capacity magazine permanently inoperable, sell the large capacity magazine to a licensed gun dealer or remove the large capacity magazine from this state, except that any person who is a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States, is in lawful possession of a large capacity magazine and has been transferred into the state after January 1, 2014, may, within ninety days of arriving in the state, apply to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to declare possession of such large capacity magazine.
1. If an owner of a large capacity magazine transfers the large capacity magazine to a licensed gun dealer, such dealer shall, at the time of delivery of the large capacity magazine, execute a certificate of transfer. For any transfer prior to January 1, 2014, the dealer shall provide to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection monthly reports, on such form as the commissioner prescribes, regarding the number of transfers that the dealer has accepted. For any transfer on or after January 1, 2014, the dealer shall cause the certificate of transfer to be mailed or delivered to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. The certificate of transfer shall contain: (A) The date of sale or transfer; (B) the name and address of the seller or transferor and the licensed gun dealer, and their Social Security numbers or motor vehicle operator license numbers, if applicable; (C) the licensed gun dealer's federal firearms license number; and (D) a description of the large capacity magazine.
2. The licensed gun dealer shall present such dealer's federal firearms license and seller's permit to the seller or transferor for inspection at the time of purchase or transfer.
3. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall maintain a file of all certificates of transfer at the commissioner's central office.
Any person who declared possession of a large capacity magazine under this section may possess the large capacity magazine only under the following conditions:
1. At that person's residence;
2. At that person's place of business or other property owned by that person, provided such large capacity magazine contains not more than ten bullets;
3. While on the premises of a target range of a public or private club or organization organized for the purpose of practicing shooting at targets;
4. While on a target range which holds a regulatory or business license for the purpose of practicing shooting at that target range;
5. While on the premises of a licensed shooting club;
6. While transporting the large capacity magazine between any of the places set forth in this subsection, or to any licensed gun dealer, provided (A) such large capacity magazine contains not more than ten bullets, and (B) the large capacity magazine is transported in the manner required for an assault weapon under subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53-202f; or
7. Pursuant to a valid permit to carry a pistol or revolver, provided such large capacity magazine (A) is within a pistol or revolver that was lawfully possessed by the person prior to April 5, 2013, (B) does not extend more than one inch below the bottom of the pistol grip, and (C) contains not more than ten bullets.
Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (f) of this section shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor.

(P.A. 13-3, S. 24; 13-220, S. 2; 2015, P.A. 15.216, S.8.)

History: P.A. 13-3 effective April 4, 2013; P.A. 13-220 amended Subsec. (a) to designate existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and add Subdiv. (2) re exception from declaration requirement for persons listed in Sec. 53-202w(d)(1), (2), (4) or (5), except upon retirement or separation from service re magazine purchased or obtained for official use, and re exception from declaration requirement for lawful possession under Sec. 53-202w(d)(6), amended Subsec. (f)(7)(B) to provide that magazine not extend more than one inch, rather than beyond, the bottom of pistol grip, and made conforming changes, effective June 18, 2013.

A person is guilty of firearms trafficking if such person, knowingly and intentionally, directly or indirectly, causes one or more firearms that such person owns, is in possession of or is in control of to come into the possession of or control of another person who such person knows or has reason to believe is prohibited from owning or possessing any firearm under state or federal law.
1. Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class C felony if such person, on or after October 1, 2007, but prior to October 1, 2013, sells, delivers or otherwise transfers five or fewer firearms, and a class B felony if such person, on or after October 1, 2007, but prior to October 1, 2013, sells, delivers or otherwise transfers more than five firearms.
2. Any person who violates any provision of this section on or after October 1, 2013, shall be guilty of a class B felony for which three years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and ten thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine.
For the purposes of this section, "firearm" means "firearm" as defined in section 53a-3, but does not include a rifle or shotgun or an antique firearm as defined in section 29-37a.

(P.A. 07-163, S. 3; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2, S. 89; P.A. 13-3, S. 13, 42.)

History: June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2 made a technical change in Subsec. (a); P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (c) to make a technical change, effective April 4, 2013, and amended Subsec. (b) to insert Subdiv. (1) designator re violation committed on or after October 1, 2007, but prior to October 1, 2013, and add Subdiv. (2) re violation committed on or after October 1, 2013, to be a class B felony for which 3 years of the sentence may not be suspended or reduced by the court and $10,000 of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing the fine, effective October 1, 2013.

Any person who intentionally, negligently or carelessly discharges any firearm in such a manner as to be likely to cause bodily injury or death to persons or domestic animals, or the wanton destruction of property shall be fined not more than two hundred fifty dollars or imprisoned not more than three months or both.

(1949 Rev., S. 8521; P.A. 73-457.)

History: P.A. 73-457 essentially rewrote provisions, which previously prohibited discharging firearms "in any city or borough, except on military occasions, without permission first obtained from the mayor of such city or the warden of such borough" and which had imposed fine for firing cannon without permit applicable to proprietors or persons in charge of private military schools, to forbid discharging firearm so as to harm persons, domestic animals or property and to increase maximum fine from $7 to $250 and maximum imprisonment from 30 days to 3 months.

Cited. 169 C. 309. Cited. 186 C. 574. Cited. 197 C. 602. Cited. 215 C. 739. Cited. 219 C. 363. Cited. 226 C. 497.
Cited. 24 CA 408.
Cited. 39 CS 359.

Any person who hunts or discharges any firearm from any public highway shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars. This section shall not apply to any law or conservation enforcement officer in the performance of his duty. Enforcement officers of the Department of Environmental Protection are empowered to arrest for the violation of the provisions of this section.

(1955, S. 3290d; 1957, P.A. 344.)

No person shall carry or possess in any vehicle or snowmobile any shotgun, rifle or muzzleloader of any gauge or caliber while such shotgun, rifle or muzzleloader contains in the barrel, chamber or magazine any loaded shell or cartridge capable of being discharged or when such muzzleloader has a percussion cap in place or when the powder pan of a flintlock contains powder. As used in this subsection, "muzzleloader" means a rifle or shotgun that is incapable of firing a self-contained cartridge and must be loaded at the muzzle end.
The enforcement officers of the Department of Environmental Protection are empowered to enforce this section.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to members of the military departments of the government or state while on duty or while traveling to or from assignments, or to enforcement officers, security guards or other persons employed to protect public or private property while in the performance of such duties.
Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not less than ten dollars or more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days or be both fined and imprisoned.

(1953, S. 3289d; 1969, P.A. 752, S. 11; P.A. 76-374; P.A. 10-36, S. 12.)

History: 1969 act prohibited carrying and possession of loaded shotguns and rifles in snowmobiles; P.A. 76-374 included muzzleloaders in prohibition and added provisions specifically applicable to muzzleloaders; P.A. 10-36 divided existing provisions into Subsecs. (a) to (d) and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2010.

See Sec. 14-379 for definition of "snowmobile".
See Sec. 26-6a re constables for fish and game protection.

Cited. 163 C. 184. Cited. 195 C. 668. Cited. 197 C. 602.
Cited. 35 CS 659.

Any person who carries upon his or her person any BB. gun, blackjack, metal or brass knuckles, or any dirk knife, or any switch knife, or any knife having an automatic spring release device by which a blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches in length, or stiletto, or any knife the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches or more in length, any police baton or nightstick, or any martial arts weapon or electronic defense weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument, shall be guilty of a class E felony. Whenever any person is found guilty of a violation of this section, any weapon or other instrument within the provisions of this section, found upon the body of such person, shall be forfeited to the municipality wherein such person was apprehended, notwithstanding any failure of the judgment of conviction to expressly impose such forfeiture.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to
1. any officer charged with the preservation of the public peace while engaged in the pursuit of such officer's official duties;
2. the carrying of a baton or nightstick by a security guard while engaged in the pursuit of such guard's official duties;
3. the carrying of a knife, the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches or more in length, by
  1. any member of the armed forces of the United States, as defined in section 27-103, or any reserve component thereof, or of the armed forces of the state, as defined in section 27-2, when on duty or going to or from duty,
  2. any member of any military organization when on parade or when going to or from any place of assembly,
  3. any person while transporting such knife as merchandise or for display at an authorized gun or knife show,
  4. any person who is found with any such knife concealed upon one's person while lawfully removing such person's household goods or effects from one place to another, or from one residence to another,
  5. any person while actually and peaceably engaged in carrying any such knife from such person's place of abode or business to a place or person where or by whom such knife is to be repaired, or while actually and peaceably returning to such person's place of abode or business with such knife after the same has been repaired,
  6. any person holding a valid hunting, fishing or trapping license issued pursuant to chapter 490 or any salt water fisherman carrying such knife for lawful hunting, fishing or trapping activities, or
  7. any person while participating in an authorized historic reenactment;
4. the carrying by any person enrolled in or currently attending, or an instructor at, a martial arts school of a martial arts weapon while in a class or at an authorized event or competition or while transporting such weapon to or from such class, event or competition;
5. the carrying of a BB. gun by any person taking part in a supervised event or competition of the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts of America or in any other authorized event or competition while taking part in such event or competition or while transporting such weapon to or from such event or competition; and
6. the carrying of a BB. gun by any person upon such person's own property or the property of another person provided such other person has authorized the carrying of such weapon on such property, and the transporting of such weapon to or from such property.

(1949 Rev., S. 8540; 1953, S. 3287d; P.A. 86-287, S. 1; P.A. 87-220, S. 1; P.A. 98-129, S. 9; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 120, 121; P.A. 99-212, S. 12; P.A. 03-19, S. 123; P.A. 10-32, S. 148; P.A. 13-258, S. 30.)

History: P.A. 86-287 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) by adding "or any martial arts weapon and electronic defense weapon as defined in section 53a-3" and amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision permitting person to carry any martial arts weapon anywhere within state if such person has been granted a permit to do so; P.A. 87-220 made technical changes; P.A. 98-129 replaced requirement that a permit be obtained for the carrying of certain dangerous or deadly weapons or instruments with prohibition on the carrying of such weapons or instruments, deleted slung shot, air rifles and sand bags from the list of prohibited weapons or instruments, added exception for the carrying of knives with blades of four inches or more by certain individuals and deleted requirement that the seller of any such weapon or instrument give written notice of any such sale to the chief of police of the city, warden of the borough or first selectman of the town where such weapon or instrument was sold or delivered; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 repealed all changes enacted by P.A. 98-129, effective June 24, 1998; P.A. 99-212 substantially revised section including replacing requirement that a permit be obtained for the carrying of certain dangerous or deadly weapons or instruments with prohibition on the carrying of such weapons or instruments, deleting slung shot, air rifle and sand bag from list of prohibited weapons and instruments, adding police baton or nightstick to list of prohibited weapons and instruments, making the exception for an officer charged with preservation of the public peace applicable while the officer is "engaged in the pursuit of such officer's official duties", adding exception for the carrying of a baton or nightstick by a security guard while engaged in the guard's official duties, adding exception for the carrying of a knife having a blade of four inches or more by certain individuals under certain circumstances, adding exception for the carrying of a martial arts weapon by a student or instructor at a martial arts school under certain circumstances, adding exception for the carrying of a BB. gun by a person taking part in certain supervised or authorized events or competitions under certain circumstances, adding exception for the carrying of a BB. gun on private property with the authorization of the owner and the transporting of such weapon to or from such property and deleting the requirement that the seller of any such weapon or instrument give written notice of such sale to the chief of police of the city, warden of the borough or first selectman of the town where such weapon or instrument was sold or delivered; P.A. 03-19 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective May 12, 2003; P.A. 10-32 made technical changes, effective May 10, 2010; P.A. 13-258 amended Subsec. (a) to change penalty from fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment of not more than 3 years to a class E felony.

Section 53-206a is repealed, effective October 1, 1999.

(1963, P.A. 115; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 98-129, S. 21; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 120, 121; P.A. 99-212, S. 22.)

As used in this section:
1. "Civil disorder" means a public disturbance involving acts of violence by a group of three or more persons which causes an immediate danger of or results in damage to the property of or injury to any other person.
2. "Explosive or incendiary device" means
  1. dynamite and all other forms of high explosives,
  2. any explosive bomb, grenade, missile or similar device, and
  3. any incendiary bomb or grenade, fire bomb or similar device, including any device which
    1. consists of or includes a breakable container which contains a flammable liquid or compound and a wick composed of any material which, when ignited, is capable of igniting such flammable liquid or compound, and
    2. can be carried or thrown by an individual.
3. "Firearm" means a firearm as defined in section 53a-3.
No person shall
1. teach or demonstrate to any person the use, application or making of any firearm, explosive or incendiary device, or technique capable of causing injury or death to a person, knowing or intending that such firearm, explosive, incendiary device or technique will be unlawfully employed for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder; or
2. assemble with one or more persons for the purpose of training with, practicing with or being instructed in the use of any firearm, explosive or incendiary device, or technique capable of causing injury or death to a person, intending to employ unlawfully such firearm, explosive, incendiary device or technique for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder.
Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class C felony.
Nothing in this section shall make unlawful any act of any peace officer, as defined in section 53a-3, performed in the lawful discharge of his official duties.

(P.A. 81-243.)

See chapter 505 (Secs. 27-101, 27-102) re private military forces.

For the purposes of this section:
1. "Facsimile of a firearm" means
  1. any nonfunctional imitation of an original firearm which was manufactured, designed and produced since 1898, or
  2. any nonfunctional representation of a firearm other than an imitation of an original firearm, provided such representation could reasonably be perceived to be a real firearm. Such term does not include any look-a-like, nonfiring, collector replica of an antique firearm developed prior to 1898, or traditional BB. or pellet-firing air gun that expels a metallic or paint-contained projectile through the force of air pressure.
2. "Firearm" means firearm as defined in section 53a-3.
No person shall give, offer for sale or sell any facsimile of a firearm. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any facsimile of a firearm, which, because of its distinct color, exaggerated size or other design feature, cannot reasonably be perceived to be a real firearm.
Except in self defense, no person shall carry, draw, exhibit or brandish a facsimile of a firearm or simulate a firearm in a threatening manner, with intent to frighten, vex or harass another person.
No person shall draw, exhibit or brandish a facsimile of a firearm or simulate a firearm in the presence of a peace officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician or paramedic engaged in the performance of his duties knowing or having reason to know that such peace officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician or paramedic is engaged in the performance of his duties, with intent to impede such person in the performance of such duties.
Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

(P.A. 88-237.)

1. No person shall carry a pistol, revolver, machine gun, shotgun, rifle or other firearm, which is loaded and from which a shot may be discharged, upon his person
  1. while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both, or
  2. while the ratio of alcohol in the blood of such person is eight-hundredths of one per cent or more of alcohol, by weight.
2. Any person who violates any provision of this subsection shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
1. No person shall engage in hunting while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both. A person shall be deemed under the influence when at the time of the alleged offense the person
  1. is under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both, or
  2. has an elevated blood alcohol content. For the purposes of this subdivision, "elevated blood alcohol content" means
    1. a ratio of alcohol in the blood of such person that is eight-hundredths of one per cent or more of alcohol, by weight, or
    2. if such person is under twenty-one years of age, a ratio of alcohol in the blood of such person that is two-hundredths of one per cent or more of alcohol, by weight.
2. Any person who violates any provision of this subsection shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
3. Enforcement officers of the Department of Environmental Protection are empowered to arrest for a violation of the provisions of this subsection.

(P.A. 98-129, S. 20; P.A. 00-142, S. 3; 2016 Public Act 16-152)

History: P.A. 00-142 amended Subsec. (a) by designating provisions as Subdiv. (1), making technical changes therein, designated former Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (a)(2), making a technical change therein, and added new Subsec. (b) re hunting under the influence.

As used in this section, "laser pointer" means a hand-held device that emits a laser light beam and is designed to be used by the operator to indicate, mark or identify a specific position,
No person shall sell, offer to sell, lease, give or otherwise provide a laser pointer to a person under eighteen years of age, except as provided in subsection (d) of this section.
No person under eighteen years of age shall possess a laser pointer on school grounds or in any public place, except as provided in subsection (d) of this section.
A person may temporarily transfer a laser pointer to a person under eighteen years of age for an educational or other lawful purpose provided the person to whom the laser pointer is temporarily transferred is under the direct supervision of a parent, legal guardian, teacher, employer or other responsible adult.
No person shall shine, point or focus a laser pointer, directly or indirectly, upon or at another person in a manner that can reasonably be expected to cause harassment, annoyance or fear of injury to such other person.
Any person who violates any provision of this section shall have committed an infraction.

(P.A. 99-256.)

Any parent or guardian of a minor child who, knowing that such child possesses a firearm, as defined in section 53a-3, and is ineligible to possess such firearm, fails to make reasonable efforts to halt such possession shall be guilty of (1) a class A misdemeanor, or (2) if such child causes the injury or death of another person with such firearm, a class D felony.

(P.A. 11-51, S. 33.)

Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, no person, other than a licensed firearms manufacturer under 18 USC 923(i) fulfilling a military contract, may sell, offer to sell, otherwise transfer or offer to transfer, purchase, possess, use or manufacture any rate of fire enhancement.
Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, a person who violates any provision of subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a class D felony.
For purposes of this section, "firearm" means firearm as defined in section 53a-3, and "rate of fire enhancement" means any device, component, part, combination of parts, attachment or accessory that:
1. Uses energy from the recoil of a firearm to generate a reciprocating action that causes repeated function of the trigger, including, but not limited to, a bump stock;
2. repeatedly pulls the trigger of a firearm through the use of a crank, lever or other part, including, but not limited to, a trigger crank; or
3. causes a semiautomatic firearm to fire more than one round per operation of the trigger, where the trigger pull and reset constitute a single operation of the trigger, including, but not limited to, a binary trigger system.
Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, any person who holds a valid permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-28, a valid eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to section 29-36f, a valid long gun eligibility certificate issued pursuant to section 29-37p or an ammunition certificate issued or renewed pursuant to section 29-38n or section 29-38o and possesses a rate of fire enhancement prior to July 1, 2019, shall be guilty of a class D misdemeanor for a first offense and shall be guilty of a class D felony for any subsequent offense.
1. 1. Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, any person who moves into the state in lawful possession of a rate of fire enhancement shall, within ninety days, render the rate of fire enhancement permanently inoperable, remove the rate of fire enhancement from this state, or surrender the rate of fire enhancement to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for destruction and, during such ninety-day period, shall not be subject to the penalties in subsection (b) or (d) of this section.
  2. Any such person who sells or offers to sell or otherwise transfers or offers to transfer, except as permitted by subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, or uses such rate of fire enhancement during such ninety-day period, shall be subject to the penalties in subsection (b) or (d) of this section, as applicable.
2. 1. Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, any military personnel stationed or otherwise residing in this state who is deployed from this state on October 1, 2018, or is under deployment from this state on said date, and who was in lawful possession of a rate of firearm enhancement on September 30, 2018, shall, within ninety days of returning to this state from deployment, render the rate of fire enhancement permanently inoperable, remove the rate of fire enhancement from this state or surrender the rate of fire enhancement to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for destruction.
  2. Except as provided in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, any such military personnel who sells or offers to sell or otherwise transfers or offers to transfer, except as permitted by subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, or uses such rate of fire enhancement during such ninety-day period, shall be subject to the penalties in subsection (b) or (d) of this section, as applicable.
If the court finds that a violation of this section is not of a serious nature and that the person charged with such violation
1. will probably not offend in the future,
2. has not previously been convicted of a violation of this section, and
3. has not previously had a prosecution under this section suspended pursuant to this subsection, it may order suspension of prosecution in accordance with the provisions of subsection (h) of section 29-33.

History: P.A. 18-29, S. 1.

Not later than thirty days after May 31, 2018, the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall, within available appropriations, provide written notification of the provisions of section 53-206g by: (1) Posting the notification on the department's Internet web site, and (2) providing the notification electronically to federally licensed firearm dealers.
Commencing thirty days after May 31, 2018, but prior to July 1, 2023, the commissioner shall include a written notification of the provisions of section 53-206g with: (1) (A) A permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-28, (B) an eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to section 29-36f, (C) a long gun eligibility certificate issued pursuant to section 29-37p, and (D) an ammunition certificate issued or renewed pursuant to section 29-38n or section 29-38o; and (2) a notice of expiration mailed to a holder of such permit or certificate pursuant to (A) subsection (f) of section 29-30, (B) subsection (e) of section 29-36h, or (C) subsection (e) of section 29-37r.

History: P.A. 18-29, S. 2.

Any person who fabricates, in any manner,
1. a weapon designed or intended to cause death or serious physical injury by the release, dissemination or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals or their precursors,
2. a weapon involving a disease organism, or
3. a weapon designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life, other than a person engaged in the manufacture of such weapons for lawful purposes, shall be guilty of a class B felony.

(P.A. 02-97, S. 2.)

No person, firm or corporation shall sell or deliver body armor to another person unless the transferee meets in person with the transferor to accomplish the sale or delivery.
The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the sale or delivery of body armor to
1. a sworn member or authorized official of an organized local police department, the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Division of Criminal Justice, the Department of Correction, the Board of Pardons and Paroles or the Department of Motor Vehicles,
2. an authorized official of a municipality or the Department of Administrative Services that purchases body armor on behalf of an organized local police department, the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Division of Criminal Justice, the Department of Correction, the Board of Pardons and Paroles or the Department of Motor Vehicles,
3. an authorized official of the Judicial Branch who purchases body armor on behalf of a probation officer or a judicial marshall, or
4. a member of the National Guard or the armed forces reserve.
As used in this section, â€œbody armorâ€ means any material designed to be worn on the body and to provide bullet penetration resistance.
Any person, firm or corporation that violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

(P.A. 98-127, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-3, S. 82; P.A. 06-119, S. 2; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; 11-213, S. 49; 14-207, S. 7.)

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-3 amended Subsec. (b) to exempt a sale or delivery of body armor to a sworn member or authorized official of the Division of Criminal Justice, to an authorized official of a municipality or the Department of Administrative Services who purchases body armor on behalf of the Division of Criminal Justice or to an authorized official of the judicial branch who purchases body armor on behalf of a probation officer, and to make technical changes, effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 06-119 amended Subsec. (b) to insert Subdiv. designators, exempt in Subdiv. (1) the sale or delivery of body armor to a sworn member or authorized official of Department of Correction or Board of Pardons and Paroles and exempt in Subdiv. (2) the sale or delivery of body armor to an authorized official of Department of Administrative Services that purchases body armor on behalf of Department of Correction or Board of Pardons and Paroles, effective July 1, 2006; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, â€œDepartment of Public Safetyâ€ was changed editorially by the Revisors to â€œDepartment of Emergency Services and Public Protectionâ€ in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-213 amended Subsec. (b)(1) and (2) to add references to Department of Motor Vehicles, effective July 1, 2011.

In any prosecution for an offense under section 53a-55a, 53a-56a, 53a-60a, 53a-92a, 53a-94a, 53a-102a or 53a-103a, it shall be an affirmative defense that the pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, machine gun or other firearm was not a weapon from which a shot could be discharged, but it shall not be an affirmative defense to any prosecution under section 53a-55, 53a-56, 53a-60, 53a-92, 53a-94, 53a-102 or 53a-103.

(P.A. 75-380, S. 2; P.A. 81-27, S. 4; P.A. 92-260, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 81-27 removed references to prosecutions under repealed sections 53a-72, 53a-75 and 53a-78; P.A. 92-260 made technical changes.

A defendant is entitled to a theory of defense instruction as a matter of law when evidence under this section is before jury. 178 C. 704. Cited. 198 C. 190. Cited. 209 C. 75.

Cited. 23 CA 615. Cited. 24 CA 195. Cited. 45 CA 390.

In any prosecution for an offense under section 53a-55a, 53a-56a, 53a-60a, 53a-92a, 53a-94a, 53a-102a or 53a-103a in which the defendant was not the only participant, it shall be an affirmative defense that the defendant:

Was not armed with a pistol, revolver, machine gun, shotgun, rifle or other firearm, and
had no reasonable ground to believe that any other participant was armed with such a weapon.

(P.A. 75-380, S. 13; P.A. 92-260, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 92-260 made technical changes.

A defendant is entitled to a theory of defense instruction as a matter of law where evidence under this section is before jury. 178 C. 704. Cited. 209 C. 75.

Cited. 23 CA 615. Cited. 24 CA 195. Cited. 45 CA 390.

Unless inconsistent with any provision of this chapter defining justifiable use of physical force, or with any other provision of law, conduct which would otherwise constitute an offense is justifiable when such conduct is required or authorized by a provision of law or by a judicial decree, including but not limited to

laws defining duties and functions of public servants,
laws defining duties of private citizens to assist public servants in the performance of certain of their functions,
laws governing the execution of legal process,
laws governing the military services and the conduct of war, and
judgments and orders of courts.

(1969, P.A. 828, S. 17.)

A defendant is entitled to a theory of defense instruction as a matter of law when evidence under this section is before jury. 178 C. 704. Cited. 197 C. 588. Cited. 204 C. 240. Cited. 209 C. 75; Id., 322. Evidence that defendant sought to introduce concerning a dispute over tribal leadership and defendant's alleged responsibilities as a tribal official was relevant to defendant's defense of justification under section and, therefore, was improperly excluded. 263 C. 602.

Cited. 8 CA 667. Cited. 18 CA 303. Cited. 21 CA 138. Cited. 23 CA 615. Cited. 24 CA 195. Cited. 45 CA 390.

The use of physical force upon another person which would otherwise constitute an offense is justifiable and not criminal under any of the following circumstances:
1. A parent, guardian or other person entrusted with the care and supervision of a minor or an incompetent person, except a person entrusted with the care and supervision of a minor for school purposes as described in subdivision (6) of this section, may use reasonable physical force upon such minor or incompetent person when and to the extent that he reasonably believes such to be necessary to maintain discipline or to promote the welfare of such minor or incompetent person.
2. An authorized official of a correctional institution or facility may, in order to maintain order and discipline, use such physical force as is reasonable and authorized by the rules and regulations of the Department of Correction.
3. A person responsible for the maintenance of order in a common carrier of passengers, or a person acting under his direction, may use reasonable physical force when and to the extent that he reasonably believes such to be necessary to maintain order, but he may use deadly physical force only when he reasonably believes such to be necessary to prevent death or serious physical injury.
4. A person acting under a reasonable belief that another person is about to commit suicide or to inflict serious physical injury upon himself may use reasonable physical force upon such person to the extent that he reasonably believes such to be necessary to thwart such result.
5. A duly licensed physician or psychologist, or a person acting under his direction, may use reasonable physical force for the purpose of administering a recognized form of treatment which he reasonably believes to be adapted to promoting the physical or mental health of the patient, provided the treatment
  1. is administered with the consent of the patient or, if the patient is a minor or an incompetent person, with the consent of his parent, guardian or other person entrusted with his care and supervision, or
  2. is administered in an emergency when the physician or psychologist reasonably believes that no one competent to consent can be consulted and that a reasonable person, wishing to safeguard the welfare of the patient, would consent.
6. A teacher or other person entrusted with the care and supervision of a minor for school purposes may use reasonable physical force upon such minor when and to the extent he reasonably believes such to be necessary to
  1. protect himself or others from immediate physical injury,
  2. obtain possession of a dangerous instrument or controlled substance, as defined in subdivision (9) of section 21a-240, upon or within the control of such minor,
  3. protect property from physical damage or
  4. restrain such minor or remove such minor to another area, to maintain order.

(1969, P.A. 828, S. 18; 1971, P.A. 871, S. 4; P.A. 73-205, S. 6; P.A. 89-186, S. 1, 2; P.A. 90-43; P.A. 92-260, S. 3.)

History: 1971 act specified that force used in Subdivs. (1), (3), (4) and (5) must be "reasonable" physical force; P.A. 73-205 deleted language specifically forbidding use of "deadly physical force" in Subdiv. (1); P.A. 89-186 added new Subdiv. (6) re the use of reasonable physical force by a teacher or other person entrusted with the care and supervision of a minor for school purposes and amended Subdiv. (1) accordingly; P.A. 90-43 applied provisions of Subdiv. (5) to psychologists; P.A. 92-260 amended Subdivs. (1), (3), (4) and (6) to make technical change by replacing "it is necessary" with "such to be necessary".

A defendant is entitled to a theory of defense instruction as a matter of law when evidence under this section is before jury. 178 C. 704. Cited. 204 C. 240. Cited. 209 C. 75. Cited. 234 C. 455. Cited. 242 C. 211.

Cited. 8 CA 517; Id., 667. Cited. 23 CA 615. Cited. 24 CA 195. Cited. 45 CA 390.
Cited. 43 CS 46.

Subdiv. (1):
Offense of risk of injury to a child under Sec. 53-21(a)(1) is not logically inconsistent with defense of parental justification. 294 C. 243.

Cited. 20 CA 75. Examining plain language of risk of injury statute, Sec. 53-21(a)(1), and this Subdiv., providing for the justification defense of reasonable parental discipline, there is no apparent reason to bar application of Subdiv. to a charge under Sec. 53-21(a)(1). 99 CA 713.

Subdiv. (5):
Cited. 201 C. 211.

Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, a person is justified in using reasonable physical force upon another person to defend himself or a third person from what he reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of physical force, and he may use such degree of force which he reasonably believes to be necessary for such purpose; except that deadly physical force may not be used unless the actor reasonably believes that such other person is
1. using or about to use deadly physical force, or
2. inflicting or about to inflict great bodily harm.
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a person is not justified in using deadly physical force upon another person if he or she knows that he or she can avoid the necessity of using such force with complete safety
1. by retreating, except that the actor shall not be required to retreat if he or she is in his or her dwelling, as defined in section 53a-100, or place of work and was not the initial aggressor, or if he or she is a peace officer, a special policeman appointed under section 29-18b, or a motor vehicle inspector designated under section 14-8 and certified pursuant to section 7-294d, or a private person assisting such peace officer, special policeman or motor vehicle inspector at his or her direction, and acting pursuant to section 53a-22, or
2. by surrendering possession of property to a person asserting a claim of right thereto, or
3. by complying with a demand that he or she abstain from performing an act which he or she is not obliged to perform.
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a person is not justified in using physical force when
1. with intent to cause physical injury or death to another person, he provokes the use of physical force by such other person, or
2. he is the initial aggressor, except that his use of physical force upon another person under such circumstances is justifiable if he withdraws from the encounter and effectively communicates to such other person his intent to do so, but such other person notwithstanding continues or threatens the use of physical force, or
3. the physical force involved was the product of a combat by agreement not specifically authorized by law.

(1969, P.A. 828, S. 19; 1971, P.A. 871, S. 5; P.A. 92-260, S. 4; P.A. 05-180, S. 1; P.A. 06-196, S. 184; P.A. 08-150, S. 49; P.A. 10-36, S. 15.)

History: 1971 act specified that "reasonable" physical force is justified in Subsec. (a); P.A. 92-260 made technical changes; P.A. 05-180 amended Subsec. (b) to include a special policeman appointed under Sec. 29-18b within the purview of Subdiv. (1) and make technical changes for the purpose of gender neutrality; P.A. 06-196 made a technical change in Subsec. (b)(1), effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 08-150 amended Subsec. (b) to include Department of Motor Vehicles inspector appointed under Sec. 14-8 and certified pursuant to Sec. 7-294d within purview of Subdiv. (1); P.A. 10-36 amended Subsec. (b) to replace "Department of Motor Vehicles inspector appointed" with "motor vehicle inspector designated" and make technical changes, effective July 1, 2010.

Cited. 166 C. 226. A defendant is entitled to a theory of defense instruction as a matter of law where evidence under this section is before jury. 178 C. 704. Cited. 182 C. 66. Duty of retreat where aggressor is co-occupant of dwelling discussed. 185 C. 372. Cited. 188 C. 237; Id., 653. Cited. 194 C. 376. Cited. 196 C. 519. Cited. 198 C. 454. Cited. 199 C. 383. Cited. 200 C. 743. Cited. 203 C. 466. Cited. 204 C. 240. Cited. 206 C. 621. Cited. 207 C. 191. Cited. 209 C. 34; Id., 75; Id., 322. Determined failure to instruct jury that defense of self-defense was applicable to lesser included offense was harmless error and reversed judgment of appellate court in State v. Hall, 17 CA 502. 213 C. 579. Cited. Id., 593. Cited. 219 C. 295. Cited. 220 C. 602. Cited. 226 C. 917. Cited. 227 C. 518. Cited. 228 C. 335; Id., 851. Cited. 231 C. 484. Cited. 232 C. 537. Cited. 233 C. 1; Id., 517. Cited. 234 C. 381. Cited. 235 C. 274. Cited. 242 C. 211. Subjective-objective test under section applies only to defendant: subjectively, defendant must believe that the use of deadly force is necessary, and objectively, that belief must be reasonable. 264 C. 723.

Cited. 1 CA 609. Cited. 5 CA 590. Cited. 7 CA 223; Id., 457. Cited. 8 CA 667. Cited. 10 CA 643. Cited. 13 CA 139. Cited. 15 CA 34. Cited. 16 CA 264. Cited. 17 CA 200; Id., 326; Id., 502; judgment reversed, see 213 C. 579. Cited. 19 CA 576; Id., 609. Cited. 20 CA 430. Cited. 23 CA 28; Id., 615. Cited. 24 CA 195; Id., 541; Id., 586; Id., 624. Cited. 25 CA 456. Cited. 27 CA 49. Cited. 28 CA 469; Id., 833; judgment reversed, see 227 C. 518. Cited. 29 CA 262. Cited. 30 CA 95; judgment reversed, see 228 C. 147; Id., 406; judgment reversed, see 228 C. 335. Cited. 31 CA 58; Id., 140. Cited. 32 CA 687. Cited. 33 CA 616; Id., 782. Cited. 34 CA 58; judgment reversed, see 232 C. 537; Id., 368; see also 233 C. 517. Cited. 36 CA 506. Cited. 39 CA 563. Cited. 40 CA 189; Id., 805. Cited. 41 CA 255; Id., 584. Cited. 42 CA 348. Cited. 43 CA 488. Cited. 44 CA 62. Cited. 45 CA 390. Cited. 46 CA 216. Sufficiency of jury instructions re duty to retreat discussed. 48 CA 755. Statute construed to apply to person who also is usually lodged in those premises at night. 54 CA 26. First person to use physical force is not necessarily the initial aggressor. Initial aggressor is the person who acts first in a manner that creates reasonable belief in another person's mind that physical force is about to be used upon that other person. 99 CA 736.

Cited. 34 CS 612. Use of deadly force not justified when attack by assailants on third person had stopped and assailants were leaving. 35 CS 570. Cited. 38 CS 619. Cited. 43 CS 46.

Subsec. (a):
Cited. 186 C. 654. Cited. 187 C. 199. Cited. 225 C. 916. Not only must defendant's belief in the type of threat facing him have been reasonable, but the degree of force used in response must be evaluated for reasonableness as well. 256 C. 193. Under the subjective-objective test, state must disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant subjectively held an objectively reasonable belief that use of deadly force was necessary to defend himself or others. 292 C. 656.

Cited. 3 CA 289. Cited. 5 CA 338. Cited. 22 CA 521. Cited. 25 CA 456. Cited. 29 CA 754. Cited. 31 CA 385. The subjective-objective inquiry into defendant's belief regarding the necessary degree of force requires jury to make two separate affirmative determinations in order for defendant's claim of self-defense to succeed. 68 CA 19. In the case of self-defense, eyewitness testimony of prior specific acts of violence perpetrated on defendant by his or her victim are admissible to show defendant's state of mind at the time of the killing. Id., 828. State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was not justified in using deadly physical force. 75 CA 80. Where a particular jury instruction, when viewed in isolation, could have been construed as dictating a purely objective standard, it was held that the charge as a whole, adequately instructed jury as to both the subjective and objective aspects of the test involved in a self-defense analysis. Id., 500. Trial court improperly instructed jury on defendant's claim of self-defense by removing from its consideration the disputed factual issue of whether defendant used nondeadly force in self-defense. New trial ordered. 97 CA 679.

Subsec. (b):
Cited. 186 C. 654. Cited. 229 C. 916, see also 35 CA 520. Defendant's knowledge of ability to retreat is measured according to the subjective standard of defendant's actual knowledge. Defendant accused of felony murder may not rely on a claim of self-defense. 254 C. 184. Subdiv. (1) allows state to rebut self-defense claim by showing that defendant could have retreated safely before using deadly force; it does not follow that defendant is statutorily or constitutionally entitled to use evidence of retreat after using deadly force to bolster self-defense claim without permitting jury to consider other possible reasons for the flight. 279 C. 414. Unlike the subjective-objective test in Subsec. (a), the duty to retreat under 2003 revision imposes only a subjective requirement that retreat in complete safety be available and that defendant know of it. 292 C. 656.

Subdiv. (1) cited. 31 CA 385. Cited. 34 CA 610. Cited. 40 CA 624. Cited. 43 CA 488. Cited. 44 CA 62. Retreat exception applies to a dwelling, not to a superior right to being outside the dwelling. 47 CA 91.

Subsec. (c):
Subdiv. (2) cited. 221 C. 58. Subdiv. (3) cited. Id. Subdiv. (2): Person who first uses physical force is not necessarily the initial aggressor under this section. Judgment of appellate court in State v. Jimenez, 30 CA 406, reversed. 228 C. 335. There was no occasion for trial court to instruct the jury on initial aggressor doctrine under Subdiv. (2) when the state did not claim that defendant was the initial aggressor. 246 C. 268. Subdiv. (2): Language of Subdiv. is plain and unambiguous and provides that initial aggressor is justified in using physical force only if he withdraws and certain other conditions are satisfied, and Subdiv. does not provide, or suggest, that initial aggressor who uses nondeadly force is justified in using deadly force to repel victim's unlawful escalation of force to the deadly level. 292 C. 734.
Subdiv. (1): Provocation element carries with it requirement that actor act with specific intent to elicit use of physical force by another. 19 CA 609. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id. Cited. 22 CA 521. Subdiv. (2) cited. 35 CA 699. Jury could have reasonably concluded from evidence presented that defendant was not justified in using deadly force against the victim because he was the initial aggressor. 75 CA 80.

Cited. 41 CS 525.

A person in possession or control of premises, or a person who is licensed or privileged to be in or upon such premises, is justified in using reasonable physical force upon another person when and to the extent that he reasonably believes such to be necessary to prevent or terminate the commission or attempted commission of a criminal trespass by such other person in or upon such premises; but he may use deadly physical force under such circumstances only

in defense of a person as prescribed in section 53a-19, or
when he reasonably believes such to be necessary to prevent an attempt by the trespasser to commit arson or any crime of violence, or
to the extent that he reasonably believes such to be necessary to prevent or terminate an unlawful entry by force into his dwelling as defined in section 53a-100, or place of work, and for the sole purpose of such prevention or termination.

(1969, P.A. 828, S. 20; 1971, P.A. 871, S. 6; P.A. 73-639, S. 2; P.A. 92-260, S. 5.)

History: 1971 act specified use of "reasonable" physical force; P.A. 73-639 allowed use of deadly physical force when necessary to prevent crime of violence and deleted language allowing use of deadly physical force "not earlier in time" than necessary to prevent or terminate unlawful entry in dwelling or workplace by force; P.A. 92-260 made technical changes by replacing "believes it is necessary" and "believes it necessary" with "believes such to be necessary".

A defendant is entitled to a theory of defense instruction as a matter of law when evidence under this section is before jury. 178 C. 704. Cited. 199 C. 383. Cited. 203 C. 466,. Cited. 204 C. 240. Cited. 209 C. 75. Cited. 242 C. 211. Defendant's due process right to fair trial was violated when trial court failed to explicitly instruct jury that state bore burden of disproving defendant's defense of premises theory. 294 C. 399.

Cited. 2 CA 617. Cited. 8 CA 667. Cited. 23 CA 615. Cited. 24 CA 195. Cited. 45 CA 390.

Common-law right referred to; unnecessary to decide whether Sec. 53a-23 creates an exception. 34 CS 531. Cited. 43 CS 46.

A person is justified in using reasonable physical force upon another person when and to the extent that he reasonably believes such to be necessary to prevent an attempt by such other person to commit larceny or criminal mischief involving property, or when and to the extent he reasonably believes such to be necessary to regain property which he reasonably believes to have been acquired by larceny within a reasonable time prior to the use of such force; but he may use deadly physical force under such circumstances only in defense of person as prescribed in section 53a-19.

(1969, P.A. 828, S. 21; 1971, P.A. 871, S. 7; P.A. 92-260, S. 6.)

History: 1971 act specified use of "reasonable" physical force; P.A. 92-260 made technical changes by replacing "believes it necessary" with "believes such to be necessary".

A defendant is entitled to a theory of defense instruction as a matter of law when evidence under this section is before jury. 178 C. 704. An act injurious to the physical well-being of a child is prohibited; the statute is not unconstitutionally vague. 192 C. 37. Cited. 204 C. 240. Cited. 209 C. 75. Cited. 226 C. 601.

Cited. 2 CA 617. Cited. 8 CA 667. Cited. 16 CA 455. Cited. 19 CA 445. Cited. 23 CA 615. Cited. 24 CA 195. Cited. 29 CA 283; judgment reversed, see 228 C. 795. Cited. 31 CA 58. Cited. 32 CA 687. Cited. 34 CA 368; see also 233 C. 517. Cited. 45 CA 390. Privilege to enter another's home to retrieve goods does not exist when defendant voluntarily gave his property to the victim. 116 CA 112.

Cited. 34 CS 612.

A person is guilty of criminal use of a firearm or electronic defense weapon when he commits any class A, B or C or unclassified felony as defined in section 53a-25 and in the commission of such felony he uses or threatens the use of a pistol, revolver, machine gun, shotgun, rifle or other firearm or electronic defense weapon. No person shall be convicted of criminal use of a firearm or electronic defense weapon and the underlying felony upon the same transaction but such person may be charged and prosecuted for both such offenses upon the same information.
Criminal use of a firearm or electronic defense weapon is a class D felony for which five years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court.

(P.A. 81-342, S. 1; P.A. 86-287, S. 4.)

A person is guilty of criminal possession of a firearm, ammunition or an electronic defense weapon when such person possesses a firearm, ammunition or an electronic defense weapon and
1. has been convicted of a felony committed prior to, on or after October 1, 2013, or of a violation of section 21a-279, as amended by this act, or section 53a-58, 53a-61, 53a-61a, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-96, 53a-175, 53a-176, 53a-178 or 53a-181d committed on or after October 1, 2013,
2. has been convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense, as defined in section 46b-120,
3. has been discharged from custody within the preceding twenty years after having been found not guilty of a crime by reason of mental disease or defect pursuant to section 53a-13,
4. knows that such person is subject to
  1. a restraining or protective order of a court of this state that has been issued against such person, after notice has been provided to such person, in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, or
  2. a foreign order of protection, as defined in section 46b-15a, that has been issued against such person in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person,
5. 1. has been confined on or after October 1, 2013, in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding sixty months by order of a probate court, or with respect to any person who holds a valid permit or certificate that was issued or renewed under the provisions of section 29-28, as amended by this act, or 29-36f, as amended by this act, in effect prior to October 1, 2013, such person has been confined in such hospital within the preceding twelve months, or
  2. has been voluntarily admitted on or after October 1, 2013, to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding six months for care and treatment of a psychiatric disability and not solely for being an alcohol-dependent person or a drug-dependent person as those terms are defined in section 17a-680,
6. knows that such person is subject to a firearms seizure order issued pursuant to subsection (d) of section 29-38c after notice and an opportunity to be heard has been provided to such person, or
7. is prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922(g)(4). For the purposes of this section, "convicted" means having a judgment of conviction entered by a court of competent jurisdiction, "ammunition" means a loaded cartridge, consisting of a primed case, propellant or projectile, designed for use in any firearm, and a motor vehicle violation for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment of more than one year may be imposed shall be deemed an unclassified felony.
Criminal possession of a firearm, ammunition or an electronic defense weapon is a class C felony, for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine.

(P.A. 82-464, S. 1; P.A. 86-287, S. 5; P.A. 91-212; P.A. 98-129, S. 12; P.A. 99-212, S. 1; P.A. 01-130, S. 15; P.A. 03-98, S. 4; P.A. 05-147, S. 4; 05-283, S. 2; P.A. 12-133, S. 19; P.A. 13-3, S. 44; 2015, P.A. 15-2, S.6.)

History: P.A. 86-287 added reference to electronic defense weapons; P.A. 91-212 replaced "pistol, revolver" with "firearm" and made technical changes; P.A. 98-129 added Subsec. (a)(2) prohibiting possession by a person who has been convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense; P.A. 99-212 made provisions applicable to a person convicted of any felony rather than only of a capital felony and specified class A, B, C and D felonies; P.A. 01-130 added Subsecs. (a)(3) and (4) re possession by a person who knows he or she is subject to a restraining or protective order issued after notice and an opportunity to be heard in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person and re possession by a person who knows he or she is subject to a firearms seizure order issued pursuant to Sec. 29-38c after notice and an opportunity to be heard; P.A. 03-98 amended Subsec. (a)(3) by replacing "protective order issued by a court" with "protective order of a court of this state" and adding provisions re foreign order of protection and re order that has been issued against such person; P.A. 05-147 amended Subsec. (a)(3) to designate existing provisions re a restraining or protective order as Subpara. (A), designate existing provisions re a foreign order of protection as Subpara. (B) and amend said Subpara. (B) to delete the requirement that the foreign order of protection has been issued "after notice and an opportunity to be heard has been provided to such person"; P.A. 05-283 added Subsec. (a)(5) re possession by a person who is prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922(g)(4); P.A. 12-133 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re motor vehicle violation for which sentence to a term of imprisonment of more than 1 year may be imposed to be deemed an unclassified felony; P.A. 13-3 changed "criminal possession of a firearm or electronic defense weapon" to "criminal possession of a firearm, ammunition or an electronic defense weapon", amended Subsec. (a) to add provision re violation of Sec. 21a-279(c), 53a-58, 53a-61, 53a-61a, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-96, 53a-175, 53a-176, 53a-178 or 53a-181d committed on or after October 1, 2013, in Subdiv. (1), add new Subdiv. (3) re person discharged within preceding 20 years after being found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, redesignate existing Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (4), add new Subdiv. (5) re person confined on or after October 1, 2013, in hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities within preceding 60 months by probate court order, or such confinement within preceding 12 months for person who held valid permit or certificate in effect prior to October 1, 2013, and re person voluntarily admitted within preceding 6 months on or after October 1, 2013, redesignate existing Subdivs. (4) and (5) as Subdivs. (6) and (7), and define "ammunition", and amended Subsec. (b) to change penalty from class D felony to class C felony and provide that $5,000 of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced unless the court states its reasons for remitting or reducing the fine; Amended 2016 Public Act 16-34 § 15

A person is guilty of criminally negligent storage of a firearm when such person violates the provisions of section 29-37i, as amended by this act, and a minor or, a resident of the premises who is ineligible to possess a firearm under state or federal law or who poses a risk of imminent personal injury to himself or herself or to other individuals, obtains the firearm and causes the injury or death of such minor, resident or any other person. For the purposes of this section, "minor" means any person under the age of eighteen years.
The provisions of this section shall not apply if the minor obtains the firearm as a result of an unlawful entry to any premises by any person.
Criminally negligent storage of a firearm is a class D felony.

(P.A. 90-144, S. 2; P.A. 13-3, S. 56; P.A. 19-5, S. 2.)

History: (Revisor's note: In codifying public act 90-144 the internal reference in Subsec. (a) to "section 29-37c" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "section 29-37i" for accuracy); P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (a) to add provisions re injury or death caused by resident of premises who obtains firearm while ineligible to possess firearm or while posing a risk of imminent personal injury to self or others and make technical changes.

A person is guilty of possession of a weapon on school grounds when, knowing that such person is not licensed or privileged to do so, such person possesses a firearm or deadly weapon, as defined in section 53a-3,
1. in or on the real property comprising a public or private elementary or secondary school, or
2. at a school-sponsored activity as defined in subsection (h) of section 10-233a.
The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the otherwise lawful possession of a firearm
1. by a person for use in a program approved by school officials in or on such school property or at such school-sponsored activity,
2. by a person in accordance with an agreement entered into between school officials and such person or such person's employer,
3. by a peace officer, as defined in subdivision (9) of section 53a-3, while engaged in the performance of such peace officer's official duties, or
4. by a person while traversing such school property for the purpose of gaining access to public or private lands open to hunting or for other lawful purposes, provided such firearm is not loaded and the entry on such school property is permitted by the local or regional board of education.
Possession of a weapon on school grounds is a class D felony.

(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-1, S. 1; P.A. 93-416, S. 7; P.A. 94-221, S. 1; P.A. 98-129, S. 15; P.A. 01-84, S. 8, 26.)

History: P.A. 93-416 amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) to replace reference to offense of "possession of a firearm on school grounds" with revised name of "possession of a weapon on school grounds" due to inclusion of deadly weapon in offense in Subsec. (a); P.A. 94-221 added Subsec. (a)(2) re school-sponsored activities and amended Subsec. (b)(5) to substitute "permitted by" the board of education for "not prohibited by school officials" and, notwithstanding the provisions of Subsec. (b), provided for the prohibition by boards of education of the possession of firearms by students in or on school property or at a school-sponsored activity; P.A. 98-129 amended Subsec. (a) to add element that the person know that he is not licensed or privileged to possess a weapon on school grounds and deleted former Subsec. (b)(1) that had made provisions of Subsec. (a) inapplicable to the lawful possession of a firearm by a person holding a valid state or local permit to carry such firearm, renumbering the remaining Subdivs. accordingly, and deleted provision that had authorized boards of education and supervisory agents of private schools to prohibit the possession of firearms by students in or on school property or at a school-sponsored activity; P.A. 01-84 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to exempt possession of a firearm for use in an approved program "at such school-sponsored activity" and made technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality in Subsecs. (a) and (b), effective July 1, 2001.

A person is guilty of criminal possession of a pistol or revolver when such person possesses a pistol or revolver, as defined in section 29-27, and
1. has been convicted of a felony committed prior to, on or after October 1, 2013, or of a violation of section 21a-279f, as amended by this act, or section 53a-58, 53a-61, 53a-61a, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-96, 53a-175, 53a-176, 53a-178 or 53a-181d committed on or after October 1, 1994,
2. has been convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense, as defined in section 46b-120,
3. has been discharged from custody within the preceding twenty years after having been found not guilty of a crime by reason of mental disease or defect pursuant to section 53a-13,
4. 1. has been confined prior to October 1, 2013, in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding twelve months by order of a probate court, or has been confined on or after October 1, 2013, in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding sixty months by order of a probate court, or, with respect to any person who holds a valid permit or certificate that was issued or renewed under the provisions of section 29-28f, as amended by this act, or 29-36f, as amended by this act, in effect prior to October 1, 2013, such person has been confined in such hospital within the preceding twelve months, or
  2. has been voluntarily admitted on or after October 1, 2013, to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding six months for care and treatment of a psychiatric disability and not solely for being an alcohol-dependent person or a drug-dependent person as those terms are defined in section 17a-680,
5. knows that such person is subject to
  1. a restraining or protective order of a court of this state that has been issued against such person, after notice has been provided to such person, in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, or
  2. a foreign order of protection, as defined in section 46b-15a, that has been issued against such person in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person,
6. knows that such person is subject to a firearms seizure order issued pursuant to subsection (d) of section 29-38c after notice and an opportunity to be heard has been provided to such person,
7. is prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922(g)(4), or
8. is an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States. For the purposes of this section, "convicted" means having a judgment of conviction entered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Criminal possession of a pistol or revolver is a class C felony, for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine.

(July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 3; P.A. 98-129, S. 13; P.A. 99-212, S. 21; P.A. 03-98, S. 5; P.A. 05-147, S. 5; 05-283, S. 3; P.A. 13-3, S. 45; 13-220, S. 16; 2015, P.A. 15-2, S.7.)

History: P.A. 98-129 added Subsec. (a)(2) prohibiting the possession of a pistol or revolver by a person who has been convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense, renumbering the remaining Subdivs. accordingly, and replaced in Subdiv. (4) "hospital for mental illness" with "hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities"; P.A. 99-212 added Subsec. (a)(6) prohibiting the possession of a pistol or revolver by a person who knows that such person is subject to a firearms seizure order issued pursuant to Sec. 29-38c(d) after notice and an opportunity to be heard has been provided to such person, renumbering the remaining Subdiv. accordingly, and made provisions gender neutral; P.A. 03-98 made a technical change in Subsec. (a)(1) and replaced "protective order issued by a court" with "protective order of a court of this state", and added provisions re foreign order of protection and re order that has been issued against such person in Subsec. (a)(5); P.A. 05-147 amended Subsec. (a)(5) to designate existing provisions re a restraining or protective order as Subpara. (A), designate existing provisions re a foreign order of protection as Subpara. (B) and amend said Subpara. (B) to delete the requirement that the foreign order of protection has been issued "after notice and an opportunity to be heard has been provided to such person"; P.A. 05-283 added Subsec. (a)(7) prohibiting the possession of a pistol or revolver by a person who is prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922 (g)(4) and redesignated existing Subdiv. (7) as Subdiv. (8); P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (a)(4) by inserting Subpara. (A) designator, adding "prior to October 1, 2013," re person confined in hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities within preceding 12 months by probate court order, adding provision re such confinement on or after October 1, 2013, within preceding 60 months or within preceding 12 months for person who held valid permit or certificate in effect prior to October 1, 2013, and adding Subpara. (B) re person voluntarily admitted within preceding 6 months on or after October 1, 2013, and amended Subsec. (b) to change penalty from class D felony to class C felony for which 2 years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court and $5,000 of the fine may not be remitted or reduced unless the court states its reasons for remitting or reducing the fine; P.A. 13-220 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to add "committed prior to, on or after October 1, 2013," re felony and add "committed on or after October 1, 1994," re violation of Sec. 21a-279(c), 53a-58, 53a-61, 53a-61a, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-96, 53a-175, 53a-176, 53a-178 or 53a-181d; Amended 2016 Public Act 16-34 § 16

A person is guilty of criminal possession of body armor when he possesses body armor and has been
1. convicted of a capital felony under the provisions of section 53a-54b in effect prior to April 25, 2012, a class A felony, except a conviction under section 53a-196a, a class B felony, except a conviction under section 53a-86, 53a-122 or 53a-196b, a class C felony, except a conviction under section 53a-87, 53a-152 or 53a-153 or a class D felony under sections 53a-60 to 53a-60c, inclusive, 53a-72a, 53a-72b, 53a-95, 53a-103, 53a-103a, 53a-114, 53a-136 or 53a-216, or
2. convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense, as defined in section 46b-120.
For the purposes of this section, "body armor" means any material designed to be worn on the body and to provide bullet penetration resistance and "convicted" means having a judgment of conviction entered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Criminal possession of body armor is a class A misdemeanor.

(P.A. 98-127, S. 1; P.A. 12-5, S. 23.)

Except as provided in sections 26-85 and 26-90, firearms, adjudged by the court to be contraband pursuant to subsection (c) of section 54-36a, or adjudicated a nuisance pursuant to section 54-33g, shall be turned over to the Bureau of Identification of the Connecticut Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for destruction or appropriate use or disposal by sale at public auction.
Firearms turned over to the state police pursuant to subsection (a) of this section which are not destroyed or retained for appropriate use shall be sold at public auctions, conducted by the Commissioner of Administrative Services or said commissioner's designee. Pistols and revolvers, as defined in section 53a-3, which are antiques, as defined in section 29-33, as amended by this act, or curios or relics, as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 27, Chapter 1, Part 178, or modern pistols and revolvers which have a current retail value of one hundred dollars or more may be sold at such public auctions, provided such pistols and revolvers shall be sold only to persons who have a valid permit to sell a pistol or revolver, or a valid permit to carry a pistol or revolver, issued pursuant to section 29-28, as amended by this act. Rifles and shotguns, as defined in section 53a-3, shall be sold only to persons qualified under federal law to purchase such rifles and shotguns and who have a valid long gun eligibility certificate issued pursuant to section 2 of this act. The proceeds of any such sale shall be paid to the State Treasurer and deposited by the State Treasurer in the forfeit firearms account within the General Fund.

(P.A. 76-77, S. 5; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 85-263, S. 4; P.A. 87-257; P.A. 00-192, S. 42, 102; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; P.A. 13-2, S. 9; P.A. 13-3, S. 25; P.A. 13-3, S. 9.)

Whenever a law enforcement agency seizes a firearm in connection with a criminal arrest or pursuant to a search warrant without an arrest or otherwise recovers a firearm, such agency shall forthwith take all appropriate steps to identify and trace the history of such firearm.
In complying with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a law enforcement agency shall use the National Tracing Center of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Such law enforcement agency shall immediately transmit to the National Tracing Center, by facsimile or by entering such information on the Connecticut On-Line Law Enforcement Communications Teleprocessing (COLLECT) System when said system becomes available for transmitting such information directly to the National Tracing Center, all information necessary to comply with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section.
The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall take appropriate action to allow the COLLECT System to be used by law enforcement agencies in complying with the provisions of this section.
Whenever a firearm is identified and is determined to have been stolen, the law enforcement agency shall return such firearm, and any ammunition seized or recovered with such firearm that is determined to be stolen, to the rightful owner thereof, provided such owner is not prohibited from possessing such firearm or ammunition and such agency does not need to retain such firearm or ammunition as evidence in a criminal prosecution.

(P.A. 98-129, S. 3; P.A. 11-51, S. 134.)

Connecticut Firearm Laws

Connecticut Constitution Article I, Section 15

TITLE 29 - PUBLIC SAFETY AND STATE POLICE

CHAPTER 529 - Division Of State Police

§29-10a - Use of state police rifle ranges by civilian rifle clubs

§29-10b - (2013) Fees for record searches and copies

§29-27 - "Pistol" and "revolver" defined

§29-28 - (2016) Permit for sale at retail of pistol or revolver. Permit to carry pistol or revolver. Confidentiality of name and address of permit holder. Permits for out-of-state residents

§29-28a - Application for permit. Notice of decision to applicant

§29-29 - Information concerning criminal records of applicants for permits

§29-30 - Fees for pistol and revolver permits. Expiration and renewal of permits

§29-31 - Display of permit to sell. Record of sales

§29-32 - (2016) Revocation of permit. Notification. Confiscation. Penalty for failure to surrender permit

§29-32b - (2013) Board of Firearms Permit Examiners. Appeals to board. Hearings

§29-33 - (2013) Sale, delivery or transfer of pistols and revolvers. Procedure. Penalty

§29-34 - (2013) False statement or information in connection with sale or transfer of pistol or revolver prohibited. Sale or transfer to person under twenty-one years of age prohibited. Temporary transfers. Penalties

§29-35 - (2016) Carrying of pistol or revolver without permit prohibited. Exceptions

§29-36 - (2019) Alteration of firearm identification mark, number or name

§29-36f - (2016) Eligibility certificate for pistol or revolver

§29-36g - (2015) Application for eligibility certificate. Criminal history records check. Deadline for approval or denial of application. Form of certificate. Change of address. Confidentiality of name and address of certificate holder. Scope of certificate

§29-36h - Fee for eligibility certificate. Expiration and renewal of eligibility certificate

§29-36i - (2016) Revocation of eligibility certificate

§29-36j - (2013) Purchase of firearm with intent to transfer to person prohibited from purchasing or receiving a firearm. Assistance from person prohibited from purchasing or receiving a firearm. Penalties

§29-36k - (2016) Transfer, delivery or surrender of firearms by persons ineligible to possess firearms. Destruction of firearms. Penalty

§ 29-36l - (2013) Verification of eligibility of persons to receive or possess firearms

§29-36m - (2013) Regulations

§29-36n - (2016) Protocol for the transfer, delivery or surrender of pistols, revolvers, other firearms and ammunition

§29-37 - (2013) Penalties

§29-37a - (2013) Sale, delivery or transfer of long guns. Procedure. Penalty

§29-37b - Retail dealer to equip pistols and revolvers with gun locking device and provide written warning at time of sale. Penalty

§29-37e - False statement or information in connection with sale or transfer of firearm other than pistol or revolver prohibited

§29-37f - Qualifications of retail store employees who sell firearms

§29-37i - (2013) (Formerly Sec. 29-37c). Responsibilities re storage of loaded firearms with respect to minors

§29-37j - (2013) Purchase of firearm with intent to transfer to person prohibited from purchasing or receiving a firearm. Assistance from person prohibited from purchasing or receiving a firearm. Penalties

§29-37p - (2016) Long gun eligibility certificate. Disqualifiers

§29-37q - (2015) Long gun eligibility certificate. Application. Form and content. Confidentiality

§29-37r - (2013) Long gun eligibility certificate. Fees. Expiration and renewal

§29-37s - (2016) Long gun eligibility certificate. Revocation

§29-38 - (2013) Weapons in vehicles. Penalty. Exceptions

§29-38a - [Section 29-38a is repealed, effective October 1, 1999]

§29-38b - (2013) Determination of commitment status of person who applies for or seeks renewal of firearm permit or certificate. Report on status of application

§29-38c - (2013) Seizure of firearms and ammunition from person posing risk of imminent personal injury to self or others

§29-38d - Interstate transportation of firearms through state

§29-38f - (2013) State-Wide Firearms Trafficking Task Force Policy Board. Composition. Duties

§29-38m - (2013) Sale of ammunition or ammunition magazine

§29-38n - (2015) Ammunition certificate. Issuance. Form and content. Confidentiality

§29-38o - (2013) Ammunition certificate. Fees. Expiration and renewal

§29-38p - (2016) Ammunition certificate. Revocation

TITLE 45a - PROBATE COURTS AND PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 801a - Probate Court: Jurisdiction, Powers

§45a-100 - (2013) Power to grant relief from federal firearms disability

TITLE 52 - CIVIL ACTIONS

CHAPTER 925 - Statutory Rights Of Action And Defenses

§52-571f - Strict liability of person who illegally transfers a firearm

§52-571g - (2019) Strict liability of person who fails to securely store a loaded firearm

TITLE 53 - CRIMES

CHAPTER 943 - Offenses Against Public Peace And Safety

§53-202 - Machine guns

§53-202a - (2013) Assault weapons: Definition

§53-202b - (2013) Sale or transfer of assault weapon prohibited. Class C felony

§53-202c - (2013) Possession of assault weapon prohibited. Exemptions. Class D felony

§53-202d - (2015) Certificate of possession of assault weapon. Certificate of transfer of assault weapon to gun dealer. Circumstances where possession of assault weapon authorized

§53-202e - Relinquishment of assault weapon to law enforcement agency

§53-202f - (2013) Transportation of assault weapon. Authorized actions of gun dealer

§53-202g - (2013) Report of loss or theft of assault weapon or other firearm. Penalty

§53-202h - Temporary transfer or possession of assault weapon for transport to out-of-state event

§53-202i - (2013) Circumstances in which manufacture or transportation of assault weapons not prohibited

§53-202j - Commission of a class A, B or C felony with an assault weapon: Eight-year nonsuspendable sentence

§53-202k - Commission of a class A, B or C felony with a firearm: Five-year nonsuspendable sentence

§53-202l - (2013) Armor piercing and incendiary .50 caliber ammunition: Definition. Sale or transfer prohibited. Class D felony

§53-202m - (2013) Circumstances when assault weapons exempt from limitations on transfers and registration requirements

§53-202n - Possession of specified assault weapon permitted under certain circumstances. Notice requirement

§53-202o - (2013) Affirmative defense in prosecution for possession of specified assault weapon

§53-202w - (2013) Large capacity magazines. Definitions. Sale, transfer or possession prohibited. Exceptions

§53-202x - (2015) Declaration of possession of large capacity magazine. Regulations

§53-202aa - (2013) Firearms trafficking: Class C or class B felony

§53-203 - Unlawful discharge of firearms

§53-204 - Hunting or discharging firearm from public highway

§53-205 - Loaded shotguns, rifles and muzzleloaders prohibited in vehicles and snowmobiles

§53-206 - (2013) Carrying of dangerous weapons prohibited