Posted: 3/23/2006 5:43:44 PM EDT
Hi all. I may have a job opportunity soon in CT that is a significant increase in salary over what I make right now in upstate NY. I don't know anything about CT gun laws however and would appreciate even a quick summary. I've heard that CT is pretty gun-unfriendly but then again, I'd be coming from NY anyway. In NY we have no Class III at all, a permanent mirror ban to the expired federal AWB, and a sometimes restricted, sometimes not "shall issue" CCW. All pre-9/94 rifles, shotguns, magazines, etc. are fine. Post-9/94 over-10 mags and flash hiders, bayonet lugs, collapsible stocks are not. How does CT measure up to that less-than-stellar report? Please tell me it's not worse...  Thanks. P.S. - I am mostly concerned about my evil guns: Colt pre-94 rifles, a post-ban Clintonized Bushmaster AR, a MAK-90, and several handguns (Glocks, HK, Sig, Beretta). They all have pre-94 high cap mags. Are any of these going to have to remain in NY (or be sold off) if I decide to move the family to CT? |
Colt AR15s and Sporters must go. CT law prohibits the possession, transfer and transport into the state. CGS 53-202a
No problem, but it must stay in a "post-ban" config.
MAK-90 is banned as being an "AK Type", if it is chambered in 7.62x39, and is banned.
Your handguns and magazines are fine to come into CT. However, you must get a CT Permit to Carry Pistols or Revolvers if you are to transport them any further than your household goods. Without a permit, one cannot transport to the range, etc. CT has no magazine restriction, so your standard capacity magazines are fine, regardless of date of manufacture. |
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Yep, Connecticut bans rifles by "looks". The AK47, however, is an enigma. You can't own one in 7.62 x 39 but you can own the identical rifle in .223 or .308. Go figure. And, Racer is correct about the Colt. It's a shame but no Colt Sporter AR15s are allowed, period. Any other brand is fine but not anything with a Colt marking on the lower. Post bans are allowed as Racer mentioned, but only if they comply with the AWB regs. Prebans are allowed, however, just nothing with Colt markings. Ugh. Connecticut is a "shall issue" state for the Concealed Carry permit. Application and permit process is not hard or long. If your current NY license required you to take a firearms course, you should be able to apply for the CT licence without having to repeat that but the application process will confirm that. And, your C&R works here too if you have one. Ammo and mag capacity is not an issue, either. IF you go here, you find the firearms that are banned specifically by name: http://www.ct.gov/dps/lib/dps/special_licensing_and_firearms/assault_weapons.pdf Understand, too, that you can own a neutered, semi-auto FAL or CETME as long as the lower does not say "FN-FAL" on it and you meet the parts count requirements. The "named banned rifle list" specifically mentions the FAL as you'll see but that refers to an "authentic" one and not a Sporter although original flash hiders and bayo lugs are a no-no under the AWB. Class III allows you to have machine guns and silencers but NOT select fire. So, you can own a full auto machine gun but not, say, and M16 which would be select fire. I know, weird but that's the way the regs are. Where are you looking to move? I'd strongly recommend joining a local shooting club. There are a number of them in the State. BTW, you'll need that raise to survive here. CT cost a bundle to live in. Rome |
Thanks everybody for your help. As it turns out, I don't think the salary increase (was initially overstated by the HR in my interview) is going to be sufficient to uproot myself and family from NY. I guess I'll be able to keep my pre-ban Colts and MAK-90 after all!  |
If I am reading this sectoin correctly (bold sections) you MAY transport pistols to the range & back without a permit. Of course, I highly recommend a permit. Sec. 29-35. Carrying of pistol or revolver without permit prohibited. Exceptions. (a) No person shall carry any pistol or revolver upon his or her person, except when such person is within the dwelling house or place of business of such person, without a permit to carry the same issued as provided in section 29-28. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the carrying of any pistol or revolver by any parole officer or peace officer of this state, or parole officer or peace officer of any other state while engaged in the pursuit of official duties, or federal marshal or federal law enforcement agent, or to any member of the armed forces of the United States, as defined in section 27-103, or of this state, as defined in section 27-2, when on duty or going to or from duty, or to any member of any military organization when on parade or when going to or from any place of assembly, or to the transportation of pistols or revolvers as merchandise, or to any person transporting any pistol or revolver while contained in the package in which it was originally wrapped at the time of sale and while transporting the same from the place of sale to the purchaser's residence or place of business, or to any person removing such person's household goods or effects from one place to another, or to any person while transporting any such pistol or revolver from such person's place of residence or business to a place or individual where or by whom such pistol or revolver is to be repaired or while returning to such person's place of residence or business after the same has been repaired, or to any person transporting a pistol or revolver in or through the state for the purpose of taking part in competitions, taking part in formal pistol or revolver training, repairing such pistol or revolver or attending any meeting or exhibition of an organized collectors' group if such person is a bona fide resident of the United States and is permitted to possess and carry a pistol or revolver in the state or subdivision of the United States in which such person resides, or to any person transporting a pistol or revolver to and from a testing range at the request of the issuing authority, or to any person transporting an antique pistol or revolver, as defined in section 29-33. For the purposes of this subsection, "formal pistol or revolver training" means pistol or revolver training at a locally approved or permitted firing range or training facility, and "transporting a pistol or revolver" means transporting a pistol or revolver that is unloaded and, if such pistol or revolver is being transported in a motor vehicle, is not readily accessible or directly accessible from the passenger compartment of the vehicle or, if such pistol or revolver is being transported in a motor vehicle that does not have a compartment separate from the passenger compartment, such pistol or revolver shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the carrying of a pistol or revolver during formal pistol or revolver training or repair. |
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"to any person transporting any pistol or revolver while contained in the package in which it was originally wrapped at the time of sale and while transporting the same from the place of sale to the purchaser's residence or place of business" Another "vague" provision in the regs. Try to buy a pistol without a permit in CT. It's virtually impossible. There is a provision for something called an "elegibility certificate" but it can take up to 90 days to obtain, requires a training course, fingerprints, FBI criminal background check, full face photo, etc., etc. In other words, pretty much everything for a conceal carry permit. I've never known anyone to obtain one of these for the purposes of purchasing a handgun for use on private property such as a home or office. And, once that weapon is there, it can't leave again unless you are having it repaired, or so the regs state. I took a friend of mine to Newington Gun Exchange. He did not have a permit but wanted to purchase a handgun for his property. I told him that they might have him apply for this "eligibility certificate" but NGE said, no, that he needed a permit, period. So, the quote I've copied to the top of this reply is really bogus. It used to be that you, as a non-licensed person, could purchase a handgun for private property use by applying, going through NICS, waiting two weeks, and then picking up the firearm and transporting it directly to your home or place of business without stopping. Not anymore. Now you might as well just obtain the permit. Ther is NO other way to purchase a handgun in CT anymore. One might think that a seller could meet the homeowner on his property (business or home) but still, an authorization number must be obtained for the transaction and without a certificate or without a license, this is impossible. This is one "loophole" in the regulations that not many people realize exists. They don't know that while the regs do supposedly provide a provision for private, non-licensed citizens to transport a handgun from the purchase place to their property, getting permission to purchase the piece is just about impossible without jumping through a lot of hoops. The antis are quick to point out the loopholes that might appear to benefit the shooting public but never point out the conflicting or vague regulations that hurt us more. Go figure. |
| i was just looking through the hunting guide and it said 500 Foot Zone - It is prohibited to hunt with, shoot, or carry a loaded firearm within 500 feet of any building occupied by people or domestic animals, or used for storage of flammable material, or within 250 feet of such buildings when waterfowl hunting in tidal areas from land shooting positions or from floating blinds anchored adjacent to land or from rock positions, unless written permission for lesser distances is obtained from the owner and carried. Landowners, their spouse, and lineal descendants are exempt from this restriction, providing any building involved is their own. i think i am farther than 500 ft from my neighbors house. |
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Even if you did have the mininum amount of space, you'd have better chatted with all your neighbors within 1/2 a mile because the first time you light off a 30.06 or .308, you'll have SWAT on your doorstep. People are not used to hearing "freindly" gun fire anymore and will always assume the worst. Rome |