Definitions and Prohibitions

Connecticut broadly prohibits any person from possessing an assault weapon.¹ Individuals who owned an assault weapon before it was prohibited may continue to possess the assault weapon if they obtain a certificate of possession before the appropriate deadline (see Legacy Assault Weapons below).² The state also prohibits any person from distributing, transporting, importing into the state, keeping, offering or exposing for sale, or giving an assault weapon to any person.³

Connecticut defines an “assault weapon”as:

• Any “selective-fire” firearm capable of fully automatic, semi-automatic or “burst fire” at the option of the user;⁴
• Any semi-automatic centerfire rifle, regardless of the date produced, that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least one of the following features: 1) A folding or telescoping stock; 2) Any grip of the weapon, including a pistol grip, thumbhole stock, or other stock that 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 or flare launcher;⁵
• A semi-automatic pistol that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least one of the following features: 1) The ability to accept a detachable ammunition magazine that attaches at some location outside 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 hold the firearm without being burned (except a slide that encloses the barrel); or 4) A second hand grip;⁶
• A semi-automatic shotgun that has both of the following features: 1) A folding or telescoping stock; or 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;⁷
• A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has: 1) a fixed magazine that can accept more than 10 rounds of ammunition; or 2) an overall length of less than 30 inches;⁸
• A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the ability to accept more than 10 rounds of ammunition;⁹
• A semiautomatic shotgun that can accept a detachable magazine; or¹⁰
• A shotgun with a revolving cylinder.¹¹
• Any semi-automatic firearm other than a pistol, revolver, rifle or shotgun, regardless of the date produced, that has at least one of the following features:
  • 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;
  • an ability to accept a detachable ammunition magazine that attaches at some location outside of the pistol grip;
  • a fixed magazine with the ability to accept more than 10 rounds;
  • a flash suppressor or silencer, or a threaded barrel capable of accepting a flash suppressor or silencer;
  • a shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel and that permits the shooter to hold the firearm without being burned (except a slide that encloses the barrel);
  • a second hand grip; or
  • an arm brace or other stabilizing brace that could allow such firearm to be fired from the shoulder, with or without a strap designed to attach to an individual’s arm.¹²
• Any semi-automatic firearm, legally manufactured prior to September 13, 1994, that meets one of the two-factor criteria tests outlined in the law as it existed on January 1, 2013.¹³
• Certain other semi-automatic firearms listed by make and model.¹⁴
• Copies or duplicates of certain semi-automatic rifles, pistols, or shotguns that have the same capabilities of those firearms and that were in production prior to or on April 4, 2013.¹⁵

Parts Considered an Assault Weapon in Some Circumstances

Connecticut bans a part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert a firearm into an assault weapon as defined under Connecticut law and any combination of parts from which such an assault weapon may be assembled if possessed by, or under the control of, the same person.¹⁶

Any firearm that has been permanently rendered inoperable is not an assault weapon.¹⁷ In addition, a part or combination of parts of an assault weapon, that are not assembled as an assault weapon, when in the possession of a licensed gun dealer or a gunsmith employed by a dealer for the purposes of servicing or repairing lawfully possessed assault weapons, do not constitute an assault weapon.¹⁸

Legacy Assault Weapons

A person who lawfully possessed an assault weapon prior to its ban may continue to possess the weapon if he or she obtained a certificate of possession before the appropriate deadline¹⁹ Any person who obtained a certificate of possession for an existing assault weapon is not required to obtain an additional certificate if it falls under multiple definitions of “assault weapon”.²⁰ Any person who inherits an assault weapon for which a certificate was issued has 90 days to apply for a certificate, sell the weapon to a licensed gun dealer, permanently disable it, or take it out of state.²¹ Anyone who moves into Connecticut in lawful possession of an assault weapon has 90 days to make it permanently inoperable, sell it to a licensed gun dealer or take it out of state.²²

Connecticut prohibits the transfer of most legacy weapons.²³

Notably, in 2023, Connecticut expanded its definition of prohibited assault weapons. Individuals who lawfully possessed these firearms prior to the ban have until May 1, 2024 to apply for a certificate of possession from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP).²⁴

A person issued a certificate of possession may possess his or her registered assault weapon at:

• His or her residence, property or business;
• Property owned by another with the owner’s express permission;
• Certain target ranges or shooting clubs; and
• A firearms exhibition, display or educational project.²⁵

A person may also possess a registered assault weapon while transporting the weapon to or from a permitted location noted above or to a licensed gun dealer for repair.²⁶ When transported, an assault weapon must be unloaded and, if transported in a vehicle, kept in the trunk or in a case or container that is inaccessible to the operator or any passenger of the vehicle.²⁷

When a person wishes to dispose of a registered assault weapon, they may transfer the weapon only to a licensed dealer, a police department or DESPP.²⁸ A person who possesses a registered assault weapon must report the loss or theft of the weapon within 72 hours of the time the person discovered or should have discovered the loss or theft.²⁹

Connecticut also allows possession of certain specified assault weapon models under certain narrow circumstances.

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1. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202c(a).[↩]
2. See Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202d.[↩]
3. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202b(a)(1). State law also specifically prohibits the transfer, sale or giving of an assault weapon to a person under age 18. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202b(a)(2).[↩]
4. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202a(1)(A)(i).[↩]
5. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202a(1)(E)(i).[↩]
6. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202a(1)(E)(iv).[↩]
7. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202a(1)(E)(vi).[↩]
8. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202a(1)(E)(ii), (iii).[↩]
9. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202a(1)(E)(v).[↩]
10. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202a(1)(E)(vii).[↩]
11. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202a(1)(E)(viii).[↩]
12. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202a(1)(G).[↩]
13. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202a(1)(H).[↩]
14. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202a(1)(A), (B), (G).[↩]
15. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202a(1)(B), (C), (D).[↩]
16. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202a(1)(A)(ii), (F), (I).[↩]
17. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202a(2).[↩]
18.  Id.[↩]
19. See  Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202d(a)(1), Conn. Agencies Regs. §§ 53-202d-1—53-202d-5, and the Registration of Firearms in Connecticut section for further information.[↩]
20. Conn. Gen. Stat.§ 53-202d(a).[↩]
21. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202d(c).[↩]
22. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202d(d).[↩]
23. See Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202d(b), (c).[↩]
24. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202d(a)(4)(A).[↩]
25. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202d(f).[↩]
26. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202d(f)(6).[↩]
27. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202f(a).[↩]
28. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53-202d(b)-(d); 53-202e.[↩]
29. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202g(a).[↩]