State Gun Laws

It is illegal under Connecticut state law for a person to possess (have) a firearm or ammunition and s/he can be denied a certificate to carry a revolver or pistol if:

1. s/he has been convicted of a felony;
2. s/he has been convicted of any of the following misdemeanors within the past 20 years:
   • criminally negligent homicide;
   • assault in the 3^rd degree;
   • assault of an elderly, blind, disabled or pregnant person or a person with intellectual disability;
   • threatening in the second degree;
   • reckless endangerment in the first degree;
   • unlawful restraint in the second degree;
   • riot in the first degree;
   • riot in the second degree;
   • inciting to riot;
   • stalking in the second degree;
3. s/he has been conviction of one of the following misdemeanors against a family or household member:
   • criminal violation of a protective order;  
   • criminal violation of a restraining order;
   • criminal violation of a standing criminal protective order;
   • assault (1^st, 2^nd degree);
   • assault of an elderly, blind, disabled or pregnant person or a person with intellectual disability (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd degree);
   • assault of an elderly, blind, disabled or pregnant person or a person with intellectual disability in the second degree with a firearm;
   • assault of a pregnant woman resulting in termination of pregnancy;
   • assault in the second degree with a firearm;
   • threatening (2^nd degree);
   • reckless endangerment (1^st and 2^nd degree);
   • strangulation or suffocation (1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd degree);
   • sexual assault (1^st degree);
   • aggravated sexual assault (1^st degree);
   • sexual assault (2^nd, 3^rd degree);
   • aggravated sexual assault of a minor;
   • sexual assault in the third degree with a firearm;
   • stalking (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd degree);
   • harassment (1^st and 2^nd degree);
   • breach of the peace in the second degree; or
   • disorderly conduct;
4. s/he has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence as defined by federal law;
5. s/he has been convicted of illegal possession of a controlled substance on or after October 1, 2015;
6. s/he has been convicted as delinquent for a “serious juvenile offense;” or

7. s/he has been discharged from custody within the past 20 years after having been found not guilty of a crime by reason of mental disease or defect.¹

Also, under federal laws, which apply to all states, it is illegal to possess a firearm if a person was convicted of a felony or a domestic violence misdemeanor. Go to the Federal Gun Laws page to get more information.

¹ C.G.S.A. §§ 53a-217(a); 29-36f; 46b-38h