Open Carry Ban (HB 6667, 2023)

Effective October 1, 2023, Connecticut banned the open carry of firearms statewide through HB 6667 (Public Act 23-53). The law amended CGS 29-35 to add a new prohibition against knowingly carrying any firearm with intent to display it in public.^[1] Prior to this law, Connecticut permit holders could legally carry firearms openly, though most chose to carry concealed.

What the Law Prohibits

Under the amended CGS 29-35(a)(2), no person may knowingly carry any firearm with intent to display such firearm in a public setting.^[2] The prohibition applies to all firearms -- not just pistols and revolvers -- and covers any intentional public display of a firearm outside the permitted exceptions.

Exceptions

The open carry ban includes several exceptions. A person may carry a firearm with intent to display it:^[3]

• Within the person's own dwelling house
• On land leased, owned, or otherwise possessed by the person
• Within the person's place of business
• While engaged in firearms training
• While engaged in bona fide hunting activity
• With the explicit permission of another person, while on that person's property, dwelling, or place of business

Accidental Exposure Safe Harbor

The statute includes a safe harbor provision for unintentional display. Neither a fleeting glimpse of a firearm nor an imprint of a firearm through a person's clothing (commonly called "printing") constitutes a violation of the open carry prohibition.^[2] This provision protects concealed carry permit holders from prosecution when their firearm is briefly or accidentally visible.

Penalties

Knowingly carrying a firearm with intent to display it in violation of CGS 29-35(a)(2) is:^[2]

• First offense: Class B misdemeanor (up to 6 months imprisonment, up to $1,000 fine)
• Subsequent offense: Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year imprisonment, up to $2,000 fine)

These penalties are distinct from and less severe than the penalties for carrying without a permit entirely, which remains a Class D felony under CGS 29-35(a)(1).

Legal Challenges

On March 3, 2026, U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall dismissed We the Patriots USA v. Tong, a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Connecticut's open carry ban under the Second Amendment.^[5] The court dismissed the case primarily on standing grounds, finding that neither the individual plaintiffs nor the organization had standing to challenge the laws. In alternative analysis, Judge Hall also found that the open carry ban was "well within historical and recent precedent" under the framework established by the Supreme Court in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022).^[6]

The same lawsuit also challenged Connecticut's bulk handgun purchase limit (CGS 29-33(f)), which was likewise dismissed. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued a statement praising the ruling, calling the open carry ban a "commonsense" public safety measure.^[5]

Legislative Context

The open carry ban was part of the broader HB 6667 omnibus gun reform legislation signed by Governor Lamont on June 6, 2023. The bill also expanded the assault weapons ban, limited bulk handgun purchases, strengthened safe storage requirements, and expanded ghost gun registration requirements.^[4]