Carrying a Firearm Without a Permit in CT

Connecticut General Statutes Section 29-35 is one of the most consequential firearms statutes in the state. It establishes two distinct prohibitions: carrying a pistol or revolver without a valid permit, and -- as of October 1, 2023 -- knowingly carrying any firearm with the intent to display it.^[1] The 2023 amendment under HB 6667 effectively banned open carry statewide.^[2]

Prohibition on Carrying Without a Permit

Subsection (a)(1) prohibits any person from carrying a pistol or revolver on their person without a valid permit issued under CGS 29-28. The prohibition applies everywhere outside the person's dwelling house, land they own or lease, or their place of business.^[1]

Permit holders must carry their permit on their person at all times while carrying a firearm. A law enforcement officer with reasonable suspicion of a crime may request to see the permit for verification purposes, provided the officer has observed that the person is carrying a pistol or revolver.^[1]

Penalty for Carrying Without a Permit

Carrying a pistol or revolver without a permit is a Class D felony under CGS 29-37(b), punishable by up to five years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000.^[3] The statute imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of one year of imprisonment, which may not be suspended or reduced unless the court makes a specific finding of mitigating circumstances and states them in writing for the record.^[1] Any pistol or revolver found in the person's possession is subject to forfeiture.

Open Carry Ban (HB 6667, 2023)

Subsection (a)(2), added by HB 6667 (Public Act 23-53) effective October 1, 2023, prohibits any person from knowingly carrying any firearm with the intent to display it.^[4] This provision effectively ended legal open carry in Connecticut. The key elements of this prohibition are:

The person must be knowingly carrying the firearm
The person must have intent to display the firearm
Accidental or fleeting exposure does not constitute a violation -- a person is not deemed to be carrying with intent to display if they have taken "reasonable measures to conceal" the firearm^[1]
Neither a "fleeting glimpse" of a firearm nor an imprint of a firearm visible through clothing ("printing") constitutes a violation^[4]

On March 3, 2026, U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall dismissed We the Patriots USA v. Tong, a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the open carry ban (and the bulk purchase limit) under the Second Amendment. The court dismissed the case primarily on standing grounds, finding that neither the individual plaintiffs nor the organization had standing to challenge the laws. The court also noted, in alternative analysis, that the open carry ban was "well within historical and recent precedent" under the Bruen framework.^[5]

Exceptions to the Open Carry Ban

The open carry prohibition does not apply to a person who is:

On property they own, lease, or rent
Engaged in lawful hunting
Participating in bona fide firearms training
On another person's property with that property owner's express permission
A peace officer, parole officer, or member of the armed forces acting in their official capacity
A security guard or other person employed to protect public or private property, while performing or traveling to or from those duties
A person carrying a firearm as a necessary part of an honor guard or a historic reenactment
A bail enforcement agent licensed under CGS 29-152f to 29-152i

In addition, the statute provides a safe harbor: a person who displays a firearm temporarily while engaged in lawful self-defense or other lawful conduct does not violate the open carry ban.

Penalty for Intentional Display

A violation of the open carry ban (subsection (a)(2)) is a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class A misdemeanor for any subsequent offense.^[1] This is a significantly lesser penalty than the Class D felony for carrying without a permit, reflecting the distinction between a permitted carrier who openly displays a firearm and an unpermitted person carrying illegally.

Additional Exceptions

CGS 29-35 provides several exceptions to the carrying-without-a-permit prohibition, including:

Peace officers and parole officers performing their duties
Members of the armed forces on duty or at a military parade
Transporting an unloaded firearm from the point of sale to a residence
Transporting a firearm to or from an authorized repair facility
Participants in formal target shooting competitions or practice
Persons transporting antique pistols to or from exhibitions or displays

Reporting Requirements

Beginning February 1, 2025, each law enforcement unit must submit an annual report to the Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy at the University of Connecticut concerning any stops conducted on suspicion of a violation of the open carry prohibition.^[1] This reporting requirement was included to provide data on the enforcement of the new open carry ban.

CGS 29-35:
Carrying Without a Permit Prohibited