I was reading the Urinal Inquirer this morning and read about a bad guy who committed a robbery in, I believe, Manchester.  He herded the employees in the back wielding a "gun" (not known if real or not) and forced them to open the safe.   The article mentions a provision of Connecticut's first-degree robbery statue dealing with any robber who "is armed with a deadly weapon".  That provision carries a MANDATORY mininum sentence of five years in prison PRECLUDING release before that point.

Maybe one of the legal eagles can shed some light on this.  I didn't think CT had any mandatory sentences like that.  Many years ago, MASS had one and as you entered the state, there was a big sign announcing that if you had an illegal firearm, you would serve a mandatory 1 year in jail, no negotiations.  That didn't last long.  Some big politician in Western Mass was caught with one and, well, they couldn't throw him in jail, right?  So, that law just faded into obscurity.  

Any info about CT??

Rome

Probably seldom gets used.   Pled down and a lesser charge.   That's why these assholes are back on the street so quick.

That has only been in effect since July 1.......1981.

Many of our penal code statutes have mandatory minimums such as assault on seniors, certain sex assaults, DUI, etc.

Ah......no.  It does happen but MUCH more infrequently than you were stating.

The sentence enhancement is applicable to all A, B, and C felonies during the course the offeneder was armed with, displays, threatens the use of, or represents the possession of a firearm.  See CGS 53-202k

Another section imposes an 8 year non-suspendable sentence when the firearm is an assault weapon. See CGS 53-202j