Rifles and Shotguns
Handguns
Purchase:No state permit is required for the purchase of rifles or shotguns. A permit to carry, permit to sell handguns, or handgun eligibility certificate is required to purchase a pistol or revolver. No state permit is required for the purchase of rifles or shotguns. A permit to carry, permit to sell handguns, or handgun eligibility certificate is required to purchase a pistol or revolver. It is unlawful to sell or permanently transfer a handgun to any person who is forbidden to possess a handgun, or to a person under 21. No person, firm, or corporation shall sell or transfer any pistol or revolver unless an application provided by the Commissioner of Public Safety is filled out. There is a 2 week waiting period from the date of the application. A handgun eligibility certificate, valid for five years, shall be issued by the Commissioner of Public Safety within 60 days after receipt of the National Criminal History Records check from the FBI to a person who may lawfully possess a handgun, who completes a handgun safety course, is fingerprinted, and pays a fee. The eligibility certificate entitles a person to purchase, but not to carry, a handgun. The commissioner must be notified within two business days of an address change. The waiting period is waived for police and parole officers, holders of a state permit to carry, holders of a permit to sell handguns, or holders of a handgun eligibility certificate. Holders of a valid Connecticut hunting license and active or reserve members of the armed forces are also exempt from the waiting period on rifles and shotguns. Antique firearms are exempted from both the waiting period and application form requirements. Possession:No state permit is required for the possession of rifles or shotguns. It is unlawful to possess any other firearm by a person who has been convicted of a felony. It is unlawful to possess a handgun if convicted as a delinquent of a serious juvenile offense which includes:
Carrying
2. While in one’s own home or place of business. 3. While transporting a handgun from the place of purchase to one’s residence or business if it is contained in the package in which it was originally wrapped at the time of sale.
5. While transporting a handgun from his residence or place of business to a place of repair and back. 6. To transport an antique handgun. A permit to carry is required to carry a handgun outside one’s home (even though one may still be on his own property, i.e. there is no express "curtilage" exception) or in any "place of business" in which one is merely an employee, not an owner or operator. A permit is also required to transport a handgun back and forth between one’s home and place of business, or to and from a range for target shooting. It is unlawful to possess a firearm on public or private elementary or secondary school property. This prohibition shall not apply to a person with a firearm carrying permit, with permission from school officials, or while traversing school property with an unloaded firearm for the purpose of gaining access to lands open to hunting or for other lawful purposes, provided entry is not prohibited by school officials. Miscellaneous Provisions:
See Also: National Rifle Association of America, Institute for Legislative Action Connecticut Law About Firearms Law |