Connecticut General Statutes Section 53-202d establishes the Certificate of Possession system, which allows persons who lawfully possessed assault weapons before the applicable prohibition dates to retain those weapons by registering them with the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP).[1]
Registration Windows
Connecticut has opened three separate registration windows corresponding to each expansion of the assault weapon definition:
- First window (1993-1994): Persons who lawfully possessed an assault weapon listed in the original named model list prior to October 1, 1993, were required to apply for a Certificate of Possession by October 1, 1994.[1]
- Second window (2013-2014): Following the 2013 reforms, persons who lawfully possessed newly defined assault weapons on April 4, 2013, were required to apply by January 1, 2014.[2]
- Third window (2023-2024): HB 6667 (Public Act 23-53) opened a third registration window for weapons newly classified as "2023 assault weapons" (subparagraphs G through I). Owners were required to apply by May 1, 2024.[3]
Application Requirements
The certificate application must be submitted to DESPP and include:[1]
- A description of the assault weapon, including caliber, make, model, and serial number
- The name, address, and date of birth of the applicant
- Information on how and when the weapon was acquired
Persons unable to apply by the deadline due to active military service outside the state may apply within 90 days of returning to Connecticut.
Confidentiality
The name and address of a person issued a Certificate of Possession is confidential and may not be disclosed to the public. Records may be disclosed only to law enforcement agencies, employees of the United States Probation Office, parole officers within the Department of Correction, and the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services.[1]
Permitted Possession and Use
Persons holding a valid Certificate of Possession may possess their registered assault weapons at their:[2]
- Residence
- Place of business
- An approved shooting range
- A firearms exhibition or show
When transporting a registered assault weapon, it must be unloaded and, if transported in a vehicle, kept in the trunk or in a case or container that is inaccessible to the vehicle's occupants.
Transfer Restrictions
No assault weapon possessed under a Certificate of Possession may be sold or transferred to any person within Connecticut other than to a licensed gun dealer, a police department, or DESPP. Transfer by bequest or intestate succession (inheritance) is permitted under CGS 53-202e.[1]
When transferring to a licensed dealer, a Certificate of Transfer must be completed containing the date of transfer, the names and addresses of both parties, the dealer's federal firearms license number and seller's permit number, and a description of the weapon including caliber, make, model, and serial number.
Loss or Theft Reporting
Under CGS 53-202g, any person who owns a registered assault weapon must report its loss or theft within 72 hours of discovering the loss or theft.[4]
Sources
[1] CGS 53-202d -- Certificate of possession of assault weapon (Justia)
Title 53, Chapter 943, 53-202d
[4] CGS 53-202g -- Report of loss or theft of assault weapon (Justia)
Title 53, Chapter 943, 53-202g