CGS 53-206:
Carrying Dangerous Weapons Prohibited

Connecticut General Statutes Section 53-206 prohibits the carrying of a broad range of dangerous weapons and instruments on a person's body. This statute is separate from the state's firearms carry laws. It lists weapons other than firearms and also covers any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument.^[1]

Prohibited Weapons

Subject to the exemptions in subsection (b), the following weapons are prohibited from being carried upon a person's body.^[1]

• BB guns of any kind
• Blackjacks
• Metal or brass knuckles
• Dirk knives
• Any switch knife, or any knife having an automatic spring release device by which a blade is released from the handle and having a blade exceeding one and one-half inches in length
• Stilettos
• Any knife whose edged portion of the blade is four inches or more in length
• Police batons or nightsticks
• Martial arts weapons as defined in CGS 53a-3
• Electronic defense weapons (such as stun guns) as defined in CGS 53a-3, except when carried by a person age 21 or older who possesses a permit or certificate issued under the provisions listed in subsection (b)(6)
• Any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument

Classification and Penalty

Carrying any of the listed weapons is a Class E felony, punishable by up to 3 years imprisonment (CGS 53a-35a) and a fine of up to $3,500 (CGS 53a-41).^[1] Upon conviction, the weapon or instrument found on the person is forfeited to the municipality where the person was apprehended.^[3]

Exemptions

The statute provides specific exemptions for:^[1]

• Peace officers: The section does not apply to any officer charged with the preservation of the public peace while engaged in the pursuit of the officer's official duties
• Security officers: The carrying of a less lethal weapon, as defined in CGS 29-161q, by a licensed security officer or a person who meets the requirements of subsection (h) of CGS 29-161q while engaged in the pursuit of the officer's or person's official duties
• Armed forces members of the United States or any reserve component, or of the armed forces of the state, may carry a knife whose edged portion is four inches or more in length when on duty or going to or from duty
• Members of any military organization may carry such a knife when on parade or when going to or from any place of assembly
• Persons transporting such a knife as merchandise or for display at an authorized gun or knife show
• Holders of a valid hunting, fishing or trapping license, and any saltwater fisherman, may carry such a knife for lawful hunting, fishing or trapping activities
• Participants in an authorized historic reenactment may carry such a knife while participating in the reenactment
• Household movers: Persons found carrying a concealed knife whose edged portion is four inches or more in length are exempt while lawfully removing their household goods or effects from one place or residence to another
• Repair transport: Persons actually and peaceably carrying a knife whose edged portion is four inches or more in length from their abode or business to a place or person for repair, or actually and peaceably returning to their abode or business with that knife after repair
• Martial arts practitioners: Persons enrolled in or currently attending a martial arts school, and instructors at such a school, may carry martial arts weapons in a class, at an authorized event or competition, or while transporting the weapon to or from that class, event or competition
• BB gun use on private property: Carrying a BB gun on one's own property or another person's property where that person has authorized the carrying is exempt, as is transporting the BB gun to or from that property
• Participants in BB gun events taking part in a supervised event or competition of the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts of America, or in any other authorized event or competition, may carry a BB gun while taking part or while transporting it to or from the event or competition
• Permit or certificate holders who are 21 or older, with a permit or certificate issued under CGS 29-28, 29-36f, 29-37p or 29-38n, may carry an electronic defense weapon

What This Means for Gun Owners

Persons charged under this statute may apply for the pretrial program for accelerated rehabilitation under CGS 54-56e. The program is for crimes that are not of a serious nature, and the court may invoke it in its discretion for a defendant who the court believes will probably not offend in the future, who has no previous record of conviction of a crime and who has not had the program invoked before, with exceptions for certain older misdemeanor cases and for veterans.^[2]