Restrictions | Connecticut Concealed Carry

Connecticut Weapon Restrictions for Concealed Carry Permit Holders

Prohibited Weapons

Assault Weapons (CGS §§ 53-202a through 53-202k)

• General Prohibition: With minor exceptions, no one in Connecticut may give, distribute, transport, import, expose, keep, sell, or possess an assault weapon (CGS § 53-202b, § 53-202c).
• Definition: An "assault weapon" includes any selective-fire firearm capable of fully automatic, semiautomatic, or burst fire, plus numerous specifically named semiautomatic firearms listed in statute (CGS § 53-202a, as amended by PA 23-53, § 23).
• 2023 Expansion (PA 23-53): Effective June 6, 2023, the assault weapons ban was expanded to include additional firearms designated as "2023 assault weapons," which generally includes any semiautomatic firearm (other than a pistol, revolver, rifle, or shotgun) with features such as:
  • A grip or stock allowing the weapon to be held with more than just the trigger finger below the firing action
  • Ability to accept a detachable magazine outside the pistol grip
  • A fixed magazine accepting more than 10 rounds
  • A flash suppressor, silencer, or threaded barrel capable of accepting one
  • A barrel shroud (except a slide enclosing the barrel)
  • A second hand grip
  • An arm brace or stabilizing brace allowing shoulder firing
• Exception for Pre-Ban Owners: Individuals who lawfully possessed assault weapons before the applicable ban date and obtained a Certificate of Possession from DESPP may continue to possess them, subject to strict location and transportation restrictions (CGS § 53-202d).
• Penalties:
  • Possession without certificate: Class D felony with 1-year mandatory minimum prison term (Class A misdemeanor for first-time violators who prove pre-ban lawful possession) (CGS § 53-202c)
  • Sale/transfer/distribution: Class C felony with 2-year mandatory minimum prison term (CGS § 53-202b)

Registered Assault Weapon Restrictions (CGS § 53-202d)

Registered assault weapons may only be possessed:

1. At the owner's home, business, or owned/leased property
2. At a target range of a public or private target shooting club
3. At a licensed target shooting range or club
4. While attending approved firearms exhibitions, displays, or educational projects
5. While transporting between authorized locations or to a gun dealer for servicing

Transportation requirements: Assault weapons being transported must NOT be carried loaded and concealed, and must be unloaded and stored in the trunk or in an inaccessible case if in a motor vehicle (CGS § 53-202d(f)). Violation is a Class E felony.

Large Capacity Magazines (LCMs) (CGS § 53-202w, § 53-202x)

• Definition: Any firearm magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, or similar device that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
• General Prohibition: It is a Class D felony to keep, offer, sell, transfer, buy, distribute, or bring LCMs into Connecticut (CGS § 53-202w(b)).
• Possession of undeclared LCM: Class D felony if ineligible to possess firearms; Class A misdemeanor if eligible (CGS § 53-202w(c)).
• Declared LCM Restrictions: Those who lawfully declared LCMs (deadline was January 1, 2014) may possess them only:
  1. At their residence
  2. At their business or owned property (with no more than 10 rounds loaded)
  3. At authorized target ranges or shooting clubs
  4. While transporting between authorized locations (no more than 10 rounds, transported per assault weapon transport rules)
  5. Under a valid handgun permit in a handgun lawfully possessed before April 4, 2013, provided the LCM does not extend more than 1 inch below the pistol grip and contains no more than 10 rounds
• Violation of declared LCM possession restrictions: Class C misdemeanor (CGS § 53-202x(g)).
• New Residents: Non-servicemembers moving to CT with LCMs have 90 days to permanently disable, sell to a dealer, or remove from state (CGS § 53-202x(d)).

Machine Guns (CGS § 53-202)

• Must be registered with DESPP within 24 hours of acquisition and annually on July 1.
• Illegal to use for offensive or aggressive purposes.
• Cannot be transferred to anyone under age 16.
• Possession for offensive/aggressive purpose: 5-10 years imprisonment, up to $1,000 fine, or both.
• Possession while committing certain violent crimes: 10-20 years imprisonment.

Sawed-Off Shotguns and Silencers

• Owning, controlling, or possessing certain sawed-off shotguns or a silencer is a Class D felony (CGS § 53a-211).

Bump Stocks / Rate of Fire Enhancements (CGS § 53-206q, PA 18-29)

• Banned effective October 1, 2018. No person (other than a licensed firearms manufacturer fulfilling a military contract) may sell, transfer, purchase, possess, use, or manufacture any "rate of fire enhancement," including:
  • Bump stocks
  • Trigger cranks
  • Binary trigger systems
  • Any device causing a semiautomatic firearm to fire more than one round per trigger operation
• Penalty: Class D felony (Class D misdemeanor for first offense by holders of valid permits/certificates).

Armor-Piercing and Incendiary Ammunition (CGS § 53-202l)

• Prohibited to knowingly give, distribute, transport, import, or sell armor-piercing .50 caliber bullets or incendiary .50 caliber bullets.
• Knowingly transporting or carrying a firearm loaded with armor-piercing or incendiary .50 caliber ammunition: Class D felony.
• First violation of sale/transfer: Class A misdemeanor; subsequent violations: Class D felony.

Ghost Guns (CGS § 29-36a, §§ 53-206i & 53-206j)

• Prohibited to manufacture a firearm without obtaining and engraving a unique serial number from DESPP.
• Prohibited to possess a firearm without a serial number ("ghost gun").
• Prohibited to transfer ghost guns (except to law enforcement).
• Prohibited to purchase, sell, or transfer unfinished frames or lower receivers without identification marks.
• Penalties: Class C felony with 2-year mandatory minimum and $5,000 minimum fine for ineligible persons; Class C misdemeanor for eligible persons.

Prohibited Carry Locations

School Property (CGS § 53a-217b)

• Possession of a firearm on public or private school property, knowing one is not authorized, is a Class D felony.

Legislative Buildings (CGS § 2-1e)

• Carrying a dischargeable weapon in buildings where either chamber of the legislature is located or where a legislative committee holds a public hearing is a Class D felony.

State Parks and Forests (Conn. Agencies Regs. § 23-4-1(c))

• DEEP regulations generally prohibit carrying firearms in state parks or forests.
• Exception: Carrying a handgun is permitted only for hunting small game or authorized activities (e.g., firearms ranges, hunter education classes) at predetermined times in designated areas.
• Handguns using centerfire ammunition are prohibited on state-owned land for hunting; only .22 caliber rimfire long rifle cartridges are permitted (Conn. Agencies Regs. § 26-66-2).
• Penalty for violation: Infraction ($75 fine), possible 24-hour eviction, and potential 1-year ban from state parks (CGS § 23-4(a)).

Correctional Institutions (CGS § 53a-174, § 53a-174a)

• Carrying a firearm into a correctional institution without authorization: Class D felony.
• Knowingly possessing or carrying a firearm within a correctional institution while incarcerated: Class B felony.

Carrying Restrictions

Permit Required (CGS § 29-35, § 29-28)

• Carrying a handgun without a valid permit is a Class D felony with a 1-year mandatory minimum prison term (if without mitigating circumstances). The handgun must be forfeited.
• Knowingly carrying a firearm with intent to display it: Class B misdemeanor (first violation); Class A misdemeanor (subsequent violations) (CGS § 29-35(a)(2)).
• Failure to show handgun or permit to law enforcement under specified circumstances: Infraction ($35 fine) (CGS § 29-35(b)).

Loaded Firearms in Vehicles (CGS § 53-205)

• Possessing a loaded firearm (other than a handgun) in a vehicle or snowmobile: Class D misdemeanor.

Carrying While Intoxicated (CGS § 53-206d)

• Carrying a loaded firearm while intoxicated: Class B misdemeanor.

Handguns in Unattended Vehicles

• The law generally prohibits storing or keeping a handgun in an unattended motor vehicle unless it is in the trunk, a locked safe, or a locked glove box.

Firearm Storage Requirements (CGS § 29-37i)

• The law prohibits storing or keeping any firearm on premises under a person's control unless the person either keeps the firearm locked up or carries it on his or her person.

Ammunition Restrictions

Ammunition Purchase Requirements (CGS § 29-38m, § 29-38n, § 29-38o)

• Buyers must present a valid gun permit, gun dealer permit, eligibility certificate, or ammunition certificate (plus photo ID) to purchase ammunition.
• Ammunition certificate fee: $35, valid for 5 years.
• Sale of ammunition to anyone under age 18: Class D felony.
• Sale without valid credentials: Class D felony.

Persons Prohibited from Possessing Firearms

The following persons may not possess firearms or obtain permits/certificates:

• Persons convicted of a felony
• Persons convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence involving use or threatened use of physical force or a deadly weapon
• Persons under age 21 (for handguns/permits) or under age 18 (for long guns)
• Persons subject to a protective or restraining order
• Persons convicted in Connecticut of specified misdemeanors after October 1, 1994, including:
  • Illegal possession of narcotics (CGS § 21a-279(c))
  • Criminally negligent homicide (CGS § 53a-58)
  • Assault in the third degree (CGS § 53a-61)
  • Assault of a victim 60+ in the third degree (CGS § 53a-61a)
  • Threatening (CGS § 53a-62)
  • Reckless endangerment in the first degree (CGS § 53a-63)
  • Unlawful restraint in the second degree (CGS § 53a-96)
  • Riot in the first and second degree (CGS § 53a-175, § 53a-176)
  • Inciting to riot (CGS § 53a-178)
  • Stalking in the second degree (CGS § 53a-181d)
• Persons found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect (discharged within preceding 20 years)
• Persons confined to a psychiatric hospital within the preceding 12 months by probate court order
• Persons subject to a firearms seizure order (CGS § 29-38c)
• Persons prohibited under 18 USC § 922(g) or (n)
• Aliens illegally or unlawfully in the United States
• Persons who have renounced U.S. citizenship
• Persons dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces
• Persons adjudicated delinquent for a serious juvenile offense

Penalty Enhancements for Firearm-Related Crimes

• Assault weapon used in Class A, B, or C felony: Mandatory minimum 8-year additional consecutive sentence (CGS § 53-202j).
• Other firearm used in Class A, B, or C felony: Mandatory minimum 5-year additional consecutive sentence (CGS § 53-202k).

Stolen Firearms Reporting (CGS § 53-202g)

• Lost or stolen firearms must be reported to local police or state police within 72 hours of discovery.
• First failure to report: Infraction (up to $90 fine).
• Subsequent unintentional failure: Class D felony.
• Intentional failure: Class C felony.

Surrender of Firearms Upon Ineligibility (CGS § 29-36k)

• Persons who become ineligible to possess firearms must surrender ammunition and firearms to DESPP or transfer to an eligible person.
• Those ineligible due to restraining/protective orders may transfer only to licensed gun dealers.