Connecticut Carry Laws

Magazine Limit - 10 Rounds Maximum

Connecticut bans magazines over 10 rounds: distributing, importing, selling, purchasing or transferring one is a class D felony, and possession is a class A misdemeanor (felony for prohibited persons) - EXCEPT magazines lawfully possessed on or before April 4, 2013 and declared to the state by January 1, 2014, which remain legal to keep subject to restrictions (CGS ss. 53-202w-53-202x).

MAGAZINE CAPACITY
CONNECTICUT

Connecticut bans magazines over 10 rounds: distributing, importing, selling, purchasing or transferring one is a class D felony, and possession is a class A misdemeanor (felony for prohibited persons) - EXCEPT magazines lawfully possessed on or before April 4, 2013 and declared to the state by January 1, 2014, which remain legal to keep subject to restrictions (CGS ss. 53-202w-53-202x).

Authority: Conn. Gen. Stat. s. 53-202w (possession, sale, transfer) and s. 53-202x (declared pre-2014 magazines); upheld, NAGR v. Lamont (2d Cir. 2024).

Pistol Permit Required - Carry Must Be Concealed

Connecticut requires a Permit to Carry Pistols and Revolvers, and since October 1, 2023 handguns carried in public must be kept concealed (openly displaying a carried firearm is banned, with narrow exceptions); permits require a safety course and are issued to qualified applicants, and assault-weapon and 10-round magazine restrictions apply.

PISTOL PERMIT REQUIRED - CARRY MUST BE CONCEALED
Connecticut

Connecticut requires a Permit to Carry Pistols and Revolvers, and since October 1, 2023 handguns carried in public must be kept concealed (openly displaying a carried firearm is banned, with narrow exceptions); permits require a safety course and are issued to qualified applicants, and assault-weapon and 10-round magazine restrictions apply.
Authority: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-35(a)(1) (permit required), § 29-35(a)(2) (carry-with-intent-to-display ban added by P.A. 23-53), § 29-28(b) (safety-course requirement), § 53-202w (large-capacity magazine >10 rounds), § 53-202c (assault weapon possession, Class D felony).

Prohibited Places - Where You Cannot Carry

Connecticut's statutory prohibited-places list is short: possession of a firearm on public or private K-12 school grounds or at school-sponsored activities is a class D felony (CGS 53a-217b, with narrow program/agreement exceptions); Public Act 23-53 (2023) banned openly displaying a carried handgun but created no new sensitive-places list, and there is no Connecticut statute barring permit holders from bars, restaurants, hospitals, or places of worship - private premises are governed by trespass law after notice (CGS 53a-107, 53a-109).

PROHIBITED PLACES - WHERE YOU CANNOT CARRY
Connecticut

Connecticut's statutory prohibited-places list is short: possession of a firearm on public or private K-12 school grounds or at school-sponsored activities is a class D felony (CGS 53a-217b, with narrow program/agreement exceptions); Public Act 23-53 (2023) banned openly displaying a carried handgun but created no new sensitive-places list, and there is no Connecticut statute barring permit holders from bars, restaurants, hospitals, or places of worship - private premises are governed by trespass law after notice (CGS 53a-107, 53a-109).

Authority: Conn. Gen. Stat. 53a-217b (possession of a weapon on school grounds, class D felony); Public Act 23-53 (no sensitive-places list created).

Duty to Retreat - Castle Doctrine Only

Connecticut: Castle Doctrine applies (home defense). In public, you may have a duty to retreat if safe before using force.

DUTY TO RETREAT - CASTLE DOCTRINE ONLY
Connecticut

Connecticut: Castle Doctrine applies (home defense). In public, you may have a duty to retreat if safe before using force.

Authority: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-19(b).

Red Flag Law - ERPO in Effect

Connecticut: An Extreme Risk Protection Order (red flag) law is in effect (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-38c).

RED FLAG / EXTREME RISK LAW
Connecticut

Connecticut: An Extreme Risk Protection Order (red flag) law is in effect (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-38c).

Authority: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-38c (risk warrant / risk protection order; enacted 1999, first in nation; expanded by PA 21-67).

Duty to Inform - Present Permit on Qualified Request

Connecticut: No duty to volunteer that you are carrying. A permit holder must carry the permit while carrying and must present it when requested by a law enforcement officer who has reasonable suspicion of a crime, where the officer has observed the pistol or revolver (CGS § 29-35(b)).

DUTY TO INFORM LAW ENFORCEMENT
CONNECTICUT

Connecticut: No duty to volunteer that you are carrying. A permit holder must carry the permit while carrying and must present it when requested by a law enforcement officer who has reasonable suspicion of a crime, where the officer has observed the pistol or revolver (CGS § 29-35(b)).

Authority: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-35(b).

No-Carry Signs - Not Criminal to Ignore

Connecticut: no statute gives private 'no firearms' signs specific force; the operative trespass offense (C.G.S. § 53a-107) requires an order personally communicated by the owner — but note § 53a-109 makes entering premises 'posted in a manner prescribed by law' a class C misdemeanor, so a conspicuous sign is not risk-free to ignore.

"NO FIREARMS" SIGN LAW
CONNECTICUT

Connecticut: no statute gives private 'no firearms' signs specific force; the operative trespass offense (C.G.S. § 53a-107) requires an order personally communicated by the owner — but note § 53a-109 makes entering premises 'posted in a manner prescribed by law' a class C misdemeanor, so a conspicuous sign is not risk-free to ignore.

Authority: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-107 (criminal trespass 1st degree); § 53a-109 (3rd degree).

Vehicle Carry Requires CT Permit - Felony Without One

Connecticut: having a pistol or revolver in a vehicle without a Connecticut permit is a class D felony (CGS 29-38(a)); narrow transport exceptions (moving residence, repair, purchase, range/competition travel) require the pistol unloaded and not readily accessible, or in a locked container other than the glovebox or console (CGS 29-35(a)(3)-(4)); permit holders may carry loaded and must carry the permit and present it on an officer's request when carrying observably (CGS 29-35(b)).

VEHICLE CARRY REQUIRES CT PERMIT - FELONY WITHOUT ONE
Connecticut

Connecticut: having a pistol or revolver in a vehicle without a Connecticut permit is a class D felony (CGS 29-38(a)); narrow transport exceptions (moving residence, repair, purchase, range/competition travel) require the pistol unloaded and not readily accessible, or in a locked container other than the glovebox or console (CGS 29-35(a)(3)-(4)); permit holders may carry loaded and must carry the permit and present it on an officer's request when carrying observably (CGS 29-35(b)).

Authority: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-38(a) (weapon/pistol in vehicle without permit = class D felony); § 29-35(a)(3)-(4) (transport exceptions: unloaded and not readily accessible, or locked container other than glovebox/console); § 29-35(b) (permit carry + presentation).