Connecticut Firearms Penalties Overview

Connecticut's penalty structure ranges from infractions to Class B felonies, with several offenses carrying mandatory minimum sentences that may not be suspended or reduced by a court. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the penalty classifications for major firearms offenses under Connecticut law.

Connecticut Felony Classification System

Before examining specific firearms offenses, it is important to understand Connecticut's felony classification system. Penalties for each class are set by statute:^[1]

Class	Term of Imprisonment	Maximum Fine
Class A Felony	10-25 years	$20,000
Class B Felony	1-20 years	$15,000
Class C Felony	1-10 years	$10,000
Class D Felony	Up to 5 years	$5,000
Class E Felony	Up to 3 years	$3,500
Class A Misdemeanor	Up to 364 days	$2,000

Note: These are the general statutory ranges for each class. Individual firearms offenses within a class may provide that part of the sentence may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and the section that defines or provides the penalty for a crime may specifically provide a different term. See the specific offense articles on this site for applicable mandatory minimums.

Permit and Carry Violations

Carrying a pistol or revolver without a permit (CGS 29-35): Class D felony, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000. In the absence of any mitigating circumstances as determined by the court, one year of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and the court must state the mitigating circumstances, or their absence, in writing for the record.^[2]

Weapons in a vehicle without a permit (CGS 29-38): This offense is a Class D felony, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000. Probation is ordinarily limited to 3 years, but the court may impose up to 5 years on a case-by-case basis.^[3]

Assault Weapon and Magazine Violations

Possession of an unregistered assault weapon (CGS 53-202c): This offense is generally a Class D felony with one year of imprisonment that may not be suspended or reduced. A first-time violation is a Class A misdemeanor if the person proves lawful possession at the time specified in CGS 53-202c(a) and otherwise possessed the weapon in compliance with CGS 53-202d(f).^[4]

Sale or transfer of an assault weapon (CGS 53-202b): A prohibited sale or transfer is a Class C felony with two years of the sentence that may not be suspended or reduced, punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000. A prohibited transfer, sale or gift to a person under 18 also carries an additional consecutive six-year prison sentence that may not be suspended or reduced.^[5]

Possession of a large-capacity magazine by a prohibited person (CGS 53-202w): Class D felony, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment. Possession by a person who is not ineligible to possess a firearm under state or federal law is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days imprisonment and a fine of up to $2,000, except as provided in CGS 53-202w and in the declaration of possession provisions of CGS 53-202x.^[6]

Prohibited Person Violations

Criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (CGS 53a-217): Class C felony with a mandatory minimum of 2 years and 1 day imprisonment that may not be suspended or reduced, and a fine of up to $10,000. The court may remit or reduce $5,000 of that fine only if it states its reasons on the record. This statute also applies to persons who know they are subject to a restraining or protective order issued against them in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force, persons confined in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities by order of a probate court within the preceding sixty months, and individuals convicted of certain listed misdemeanors.^[7]

Possession of a weapon on school grounds (CGS 53a-217b): Class D felony, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000.^[8]

Machine Gun and Trafficking Violations

Machine gun possession for offensive or aggressive purpose (CGS 53-202): a fine of not more than $1,000, imprisonment of not less than 5 years nor more than 10 years, or both. Possession during a violent crime carries 10 to 20 years imprisonment.^[9]

Firearms trafficking (CGS 53-202aa): Class B felony with a mandatory minimum 3-year sentence, punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment.^[10]

Storage Violations

Criminally negligent storage of a firearm (CGS 53a-217a): Class D felony when a person violates Ethan's Law (CGS 29-37i) and another person obtains the firearm and causes the injury or death of such person or any other person. This does not apply if the firearm was obtained as a result of an unlawful entry to any premises by any person and, if the firearm is stolen, it is reported stolen under CGS 53-202g. Punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000.^[11]

Ghost Gun Violations

Ghost gun possession by an ineligible person (CGS 29-36a): Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court. Five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons. A violation of CGS 29-36a, including possession of a firearm without a serial number or other mark of identification, by a person who is not ineligible to possess a firearm under state or federal law is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to 3 months imprisonment.^[12]

Sentence Enhancements

Connecticut law imposes additional sentence enhancements when a firearm is used during the commission of certain crimes. Under CGS 53-202k, a defendant convicted of a Class A, B, or C felony who used, was armed with and threatened the use of, displayed, or represented possession of a firearm other than an assault weapon during the offense faces an additional 5-year nonsuspendable mandatory sentence, served consecutively to the underlying felony sentence. Under CGS 53-202j, the same conduct involving an assault weapon during a Class A, B, or C felony instead carries an additional 8-year sentence that may not be suspended or reduced and is served consecutively to the felony sentence.^[13]

Mandatory Minimums Summary

Offense	Classification	Mandatory Minimum
Carrying without permit (CGS 29-35)	Class D felony	1 year unless the court finds mitigating circumstances
Unregistered assault weapon (CGS 53-202c)	Class D felony unless the first-violation Class A misdemeanor exception applies	1 year for the felony
Criminal possession by felon (CGS 53a-217)	Class C felony	2 years and 1 day
Firearms trafficking (CGS 53-202aa)	Class B felony	3 years
Class A, B or C felony involving firearm conduct specified in CGS 53-202k, excluding assault weapons	Enhancement	5 years (additional)
Class A, B or C felony involving assault-weapon conduct specified in CGS 53-202j	Enhancement	8 years (additional)

See also: New Gun Owner Guide to Connecticut Firearms Law