Connecticut General Statutes Section 29-37a establishes the requirements for the sale, delivery, and transfer of long guns (rifles and shotguns). Like the handgun transfer statute (CGS 29-33), this section mandates an authorization number from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) before any long gun may change hands.[1]
Eligibility Certificate Requirement
Effective April 1, 2014, no person may purchase or receive any long gun unless they hold one of the following:[1]
- A valid Long Gun Eligibility Certificate issued under CGS 29-37p
- A valid State Pistol Permit issued under CGS 29-28(b)
- A valid Eligibility Certificate for a Pistol or Revolver issued under CGS 29-36f
- A valid Permit to Sell Firearms at Retail issued under CGS 29-28(a)
This requirement was expanded by HB 6667 (2023) to apply to all transfers, including private sales, effective October 1, 2023.[2]
Authorization Number Process
No sale, delivery, or transfer of any long gun may occur until the seller obtains an authorization number from the Commissioner of DESPP. The department performs the NICS background check and determines whether the buyer is eligible to receive the firearm. This process mirrors the handgun authorization number system under CGS 29-33.[1]
Age Restrictions
No person, firm, or corporation may sell, deliver, or otherwise transfer any long gun at retail to a person under 18 years of age. Additionally, as of October 1, 2023, no person may sell, deliver, or transfer a semiautomatic centerfire rifle that has or accepts a magazine with a capacity exceeding five rounds to any person under 21 years of age.[3]
Application and Documentation
Upon the sale, delivery, or transfer of a long gun, the transferor or transferee must complete a form prescribed by the Commissioner of DESPP. The form must contain:[1]
- Name and address of the transferor and transferee
- Date and place of birth of the transferee
- Firearm permit or certificate number of the transferee
- Firearm permit or certificate number of the transferor, if any
- Date of the sale, delivery, or transfer
- Caliber, make, model, and manufacturer's number of the long gun
- A general description of the long gun
- The authorization number provided by DESPP
Packaging and Condition Requirements
When any long gun is delivered in connection with a sale or purchase, it must be enclosed in a package with securely fastened paper or wrapping. The long gun must not be loaded or contain any gunpowder, explosive, bullet, ball, or shell at the time of delivery.[1]
Record Retention
The completed application must be filed and retained, attached to the federal sale or transfer document, for at least 20 years or until the vendor goes out of business. Records must be available for inspection during normal business hours by law enforcement officials.[1]
Penalties
Violations of CGS 29-37a carry serious criminal penalties. Selling, delivering, or transferring a long gun in violation of the statute is generally classified as a criminal offense. Persons who transfer firearms to ineligible persons, or who fail to obtain the required authorization number, face felony charges.[1]
Key Differences From Handgun Transfers
While the long gun transfer process closely mirrors the handgun process under CGS 29-33, there are important distinctions. Long guns must be delivered in sealed packaging, whereas handguns do not have this specific packaging requirement. The minimum age for long gun purchases is generally 18 (compared to 21 for handguns), though the age rises to 21 for certain semiautomatic centerfire rifles. Both statutes require the same 20-year record retention period and the same DESPP authorization number process.
See also: Universal Background Check Requirement