Connecticut has an extreme risk protection order law which allows for the removal of firearms and prohibits future acquisition of firearms where individuals pose a risk of injury to themselves or others.

In Connecticut, a state’s attorney, assistant state’s attorney, or a police officer who “has probable cause to believe that a person at least 18 years of age poses a risk of imminent personal injury to themself or to another person” may file a complaint with a court for a risk protection order.¹ A risk protection order prohibits a person from “acquiring or possessing a firearm or other deadly weapon or ammunition.”² If there is probable cause to believe that the person already possesses one or more firearms or deadly weapons and those weapons are within or upon a particular place or person, the judge shall also issue a warrant for law enforcement to search that place and/or person and take the weapon(s) into custody.

Probable cause may be based on:

• Recent threats or acts of violence directed towards self or others;

• Recent acts of cruelty to animals;

• Reckless use, display or brandishing of a firearm or other deadly weapon;

• A history of use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against others;

• Illegal use of controlled substances or abuse of alcohol; or

• Involuntary confinement to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities.³

Connecticut law also allows for a family or household member or a medical professional with a good faith belief that a person age 18 or older poses a risk of imminent personal injury to themself or another person to apply to a court for a risk order protection investigation.⁴ If the court finds that there is such a good faith belief, it shall order a risk protection order investigation to determine if there is such a risk.⁵ Law enforcement then investigates whether there is a risk of imminent personal injury.⁶ The subject of the investigation is ineligible to possess, purchase, or receive a firearm during the pendency of the investigation.⁷ If following the investigation there is probable cause to believe there is such a risk, the law enforcement agency shall seek a risk protection order and, if appropriate, a warrant for firearms, ammunition, and other deadly weapons. ⁸

After a risk protection order has been issued, the court must hold a hearing within 14 days to determine whether risk protection order shall continue to apply and, if a warrant was issued, whether any weapons or ammunition should be returned to the person named in the warrant.⁹ If the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person poses a risk of imminent personal injury to themself or others, it may order that the risk protection order continue to apply the state to continue to hold the weapons and/or ammunition until the subject successfully petitions for the court to terminate the order.¹⁰ If the court does not find clear and convincing evidence of risk, the order and any warrant shall be terminated and any seized weapons or ammunition be returned. ¹¹

Petitioners who believe that a minor under the age of 18 is at risk of committing violence against others can file a petition in juvenile court to remove the firearms from the minor. Eligible petitioners are the same categories of individuals who are eligible to petition for an order against an adult.¹²

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1. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-38c(a).[↩]
2. Id.[↩]
3. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-38c(c). Any person whose firearms have been ordered seized under this statute, or his or her legal representative, may transfer the firearms in accordance with the provisions of Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-33 or other applicable state or federal law, to any person eligible to possess firearms. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-38c(h).[↩]
4. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-38c(b)(1).[↩]
5. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-38c(b)(2).[↩]
6. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-38c(b)(3).[↩]
7. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-38c(b)(2).[↩]
8. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-38c(b)(3).[↩]
9. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-38c(e).[↩]
10. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-38c(f).[↩]
11. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-38c(e).[↩]
12. P.A. 23-89, § 2, added by 2023 Conn. HB 6877.[↩]