Age Requirements for Firearms Purchases

Connecticut imposes tiered age requirements for firearms purchases, with the minimum age varying by the type of firearm. These requirements interact with the state's permit and eligibility certificate system, as the certificates themselves carry their own age thresholds. HB 6667 (2023) expanded age restrictions for certain semiautomatic rifles.^[1]

Handguns: 21 Years Old

Any person who wishes to purchase a pistol or revolver must be at least 21 years old. This requirement is embedded in the eligibility certificate system: CGS 29-36f provides that only persons 21 years of age or older may apply to the Commissioner of DESPP for a Handgun Eligibility Certificate. A handgun buyer must hold this certificate, a State Pistol Permit, or a valid permit to sell firearms at retail unless the buyer is a federal marshal, parole officer or peace officer. State Pistol Permit applicants must be at least 21, and sellers may not transfer handguns to buyers under 21.^[2]

Sellers are also prohibited from transferring any handgun to a person under 21, though limited exceptions exist for temporary transfers for supervised target shooting.^[1]

Standard Long Guns: 18 Years Old

No person, firm, or corporation may sell, deliver, or otherwise transfer any long gun at retail to a person under 18 years of age. A long gun buyer must hold a valid Long Gun Eligibility Certificate (CGS 29-37p), a State Pistol Permit, a permit to sell firearms at retail (CGS 29-28(b)), or a Handgun Eligibility Certificate, except for transfers exempt under CGS 29-37a(e). Those exemptions cover specified agency, officer, military and nuclear security transfers, transfers to or between federally licensed manufacturers, importers or dealers, qualifying curio or relic transfers to or between federally licensed collectors, and antique firearms. The Long Gun Eligibility Certificate is available to persons 18 and older.^[3]

Semiautomatic Centerfire Rifles Accepting Magazines Over Five Rounds Require Age 21

Effective October 1, 2023, HB 6667 extended the existing higher age threshold for certain semiautomatic centerfire rifles to private transfers. 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, except transfers to members or employees of an organized local police department, DESPP or the Department of Correction, or members of the state or United States military or naval forces, for use in the discharge of their duties. This provision applies to both dealer sales and private transfers.^[1]

This means that an otherwise eligible 18-year-old may purchase a bolt-action rifle, a lever-action rifle, or a semiautomatic rimfire rifle that may lawfully be transferred, but cannot purchase a semiautomatic centerfire rifle capable of accepting a magazine holding more than five rounds until turning 21 unless the duty-use exception applies.^[4]

Age Requirement Summary

Firearm Type	Minimum Age	Statute
Pistols and revolvers	21	CGS 29-36f
Standard long guns (bolt-action, lever-action, rimfire)	18	CGS 29-37a
Semiautomatic centerfire rifles that have or accept magazines holding more than five rounds (duty-use exception applies)	21	CGS 29-37a (as amended by HB 6667)

Ammunition and Magazine Restrictions

Connecticut also restricts the sale of ammunition and magazines to persons under 18. Machine gun transfers to persons under 16 are prohibited regardless of other permit status, except for machine guns rendered inoperable by welding all critical functioning parts and possessed as a curiosity, ornament or keepsake.^[1]

Federal Law Interaction

Federal law imposes its own age requirements: 21 for handgun purchases from a federally licensed dealer and 18 for long gun purchases from a dealer. Connecticut's age requirements are more restrictive than federal law for the semiautomatic centerfire rifle category, where the state imposes a 21-year minimum that federal law does not. Connecticut law controls in cases where state requirements are stricter than federal requirements.^[5]