Ghost Gun Ban and Registration Requirements

Connecticut's ghost gun laws generally prohibit possession of firearms without a serial number or other identification mark unless possession was declared under CGS 29-36a or a properly requested DESPP identifier has not yet been received. Antique firearms, otherwise lawfully possessed firearms manufactured before December 16, 1968, and firearms made using frames or receivers already marked under CGS 53-206j are exempt. The original ban was enacted in 2019 (Public Act 19-6), with significant expansions under HB 6667 (Public Act 23-53).^[6]

What Is a Ghost Gun?

A "ghost gun" is an unserialized firearm that lacks a serial number or other identification mark. Federal regulations define a privately made firearm as a firearm, including a frame or receiver, completed, assembled, or otherwise produced by a person other than a licensed manufacturer, and without a serial number placed by a licensed manufacturer at the time the firearm was produced.^[1]

Unfinished Frame and Receiver Restrictions (CGS 53-206j)

Since June 3, 2019, Connecticut has required a unique serial number or other identification mark from DESPP or the ATF for unfinished frames and lower receivers transferred under the handgun-transfer procedures. Those transfers follow the handgun-transfer procedures, including a background check through DESPP. The statute exempts specified transfers between federally licensed manufacturers, importers and dealers and allows advance-arranged surrender to police or DESPP.^[4] No person shall possess an unfinished frame or unfinished lower receiver unless eligible to purchase a firearm under state and federal law. Violations generally are a Class C felony with two years of the sentence that may not be suspended or reduced. A person who unlawfully sells, delivers or transfers an unfinished frame or lower receiver knowing it is stolen or that its manufacturer's number or other identification mark has been altered, removed or obliterated commits a Class B felony with three years of the sentence that may not be suspended or reduced.^[1]

Home-Built Firearm Serialization (CGS 29-36a)

A person who completes manufacture of a firearm subject to CGS 29-36a must notify DESPP within 30 days of completion. The person must also obtain and affix a serial number or other identification mark. The section exempts manufacture using a frame or receiver already marked under CGS 53-206j, manufacture by federally licensed manufacturers, antique firearms, otherwise lawfully possessed firearms manufactured before December 16, 1968, and delivery or transfer to law enforcement. For firearms subject to this manufacturing requirement, the person who completes manufacture must obtain a unique serial number or identification mark from DESPP and engrave or permanently affix it to the firearm in accordance with federal marking requirements.^[3]

HB 6667 (2023) Expansions

Public Act 23-53 amended CGS 29-36a effective June 6, 2023. Its general possession prohibition began January 1, 2024.^[2]

• Extended the ban to pre-2019 ghost guns: The original 2019 law did not cover ghost guns assembled before the ban took effect. HB 6667 extended the rules to firearms manufactured on or after December 16, 1968, subject to the antique-firearm and other statutory exemptions. Possession must have been declared under CGS 29-36a or a DESPP identifier must have been affixed or properly requested and not yet received.
• Registration deadline: People who lawfully possessed a nonexempt unserialized firearm before January 1, 2024, manufactured before October 1, 2019, had to apply to declare possession by January 1, 2024. Qualifying military members unable to apply because of official duty outside Connecticut have 90 days after returning to apply. Properly requested DESPP identifiers not yet received are also an exception to the possession ban.
• General possession ban: As of January 1, 2024, possession of a firearm without a serial number or other identification mark is generally prohibited unless possession was declared under CGS 29-36a or a properly requested DESPP identifier has not yet been received. Antique firearms, otherwise lawfully possessed firearms manufactured before December 16, 1968, and firearms made using frames or receivers already marked under CGS 53-206j are exempt.

Options for New Connecticut Residents

Persons who move into Connecticut in lawful possession of a nonexempt unserialized firearm must take one of the following steps within 90 days. Members of the military or naval forces of Connecticut or the United States transferred into Connecticut after January 1, 2024, with lawful possession may instead apply to DESPP to declare possession within 90 days of arrival.^[3]

• Obtain a unique serial number or other mark of identification from DESPP and engrave upon or permanently affix it to the firearm in a manner that conforms with federal marking requirements
• Render the ghost gun permanently inoperable
• Sell the ghost gun to a federally licensed firearm dealer
• Remove the firearm from the state

Undetectable Firearms

Connecticut prohibits manufacturing a firearm from polymer plastic that, after removal of grips, stocks and magazines, is not as detectible as the security exemplar by walk-through metal detectors calibrated and operated to detect the security exemplar.^[1]

Penalties

• Ineligible persons (those ineligible to possess a firearm under state or federal law) who violate CGS 29-36a face a class C felony punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, with two years of the sentence imposed that may not be suspended or reduced by the court^[1]
• Eligible persons (possession of unserialized firearm without proper declaration): Class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 3 months imprisonment^[3]
• Aiding manufacture by prohibited persons. No person shall knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence facilitate, aid or abet the manufacture of a firearm by or for a person prohibited by law from purchasing or possessing a firearm, or the manufacture of a firearm that a person is prohibited by law from purchasing or possessing^[3]

Courts may offer suspension of prosecution programs for some first-time offenders, potentially leading to dismissal of charges.

See also: Ghost Gun Serialization and Compliance Guide