Connecticut Open Carry Laws

Open Carry Laws in Connecticut

Connecticut law does not explicitly prohibit or require concealed carry for permit holders. The state's firearm carry statute does not specify whether a handgun must be carried openly or concealed.

Legal Framework

• CGS § 29-35 requires a person to have a permit to carry handguns in Connecticut but does not specify whether the gun must be carried openly or concealed.
• The Connecticut Appellate Court in Peruta v. Commissioner of Public Safety, 128 Conn. App. 777, 794, 20 A.3d 691 (cert. denied, 302 Conn. 919, 28 A.3d 339 (2011)) recognized that while § 29-35 does not prohibit a permit holder from carrying a pistol openly, "depending on the specific circumstances, a person who openly carries a pistol conceivably may be subject to arrest for violating several statutes."

Permit Requirement

• A valid Connecticut pistol permit (issued under CGS § 29-28) is required to carry a handgun, whether openly or concealed.
• The permit must be carried on one's person when carrying the firearm (CGS § 29-35).

Penalties

Restrictions in State Parks and Forests

• DEEP regulations (Conn. Agencies Regs. § 23-4-1(c)) prohibit, with exceptions, carrying firearms or other weapons in state parks or forests.
• A person may legally possess a handgun in a state park or forest only when carrying for hunting small game or participating in other authorized activities (e.g., at a firearms range or during a hunter education class), at predetermined times in areas set aside and posted by DEEP.
• On state-owned land, handguns using centerfire ammunition are prohibited for hunting; only handguns with ammunition no larger than .22 caliber rimfire long rifle cartridges are permitted (Conn. Agencies Regs. § 26-66-2(a)).
• Illegally carrying weapons in a state park or forest is an infraction with a total fine of $75 (Conn. Agencies Regs. § 23-4-5(b)(1)). DEEP may also evict the violator for 24 hours and may prohibit entry to any state park for up to one year after conviction (CGS § 23-4(a)).

Key Considerations

While open carry is technically legal with a valid permit under CGS § 29-35, the Appellate Court has cautioned that open carry may expose a person to potential arrest under other statutes depending on the circumstances. Permit holders should be aware that open carry, while not explicitly prohibited by the carry statute, may attract law enforcement attention and could potentially implicate other laws.