State · CT
Connecticut gun laws
Here's a plain-language look at Connecticut's own firearm laws, topic by topic. Federal law applies here too, so it's worth reading the federal page alongside this one. City and county rules aren't covered, and some places have stricter ones.
At a glance: Permit needed to carry concealed · magazine limit (10 rounds) · “assault weapon” ban
Recently changed or in flux
- In courtThe assault weapon ban is before the U.S. Supreme Court (Grant v. Higgins; argument scheduled Dec. 2, 2026), and the NAGR v. Lamont cert petition (No. 25-421) is still pending.
- Recently changedPublic Act 26-41 (HB 5043; signed May 26, 2026) took effect Oct. 1, 2026. It defines a 'convertible pistol' as a semi-automatic pistol with a cruciform trigger bar that can readily be turned into a machine gun with a simple add-on converter (hammer-fired pistols and those with a hard-to-remove shield tab are excluded), and makes it a felony to import, advertise or sell ones made on or after Oct. 1, 2026. On Sept. 30, 2026 a federal judge (D. Conn., Judge Dooley) granted preliminary injunctions in Glock, Inc. v. Griffin and NSSF v. Griffin blocking the state from enforcing that import, advertising and sales ban while the cases go on, finding it likely violates the Second Amendment.
- In courtConvertible pistols: Glock, Inc. v. Griffin (No. 3:26-cv-01525) and NSSF v. Griffin (No. 3:26-cv-01528) continue in federal court in Connecticut; under the Oct. 20, 2026 scheduling order in the Glock case, discovery runs to Sept. 30, 2027. No appeal of the injunctions had been docketed as of Oct. 22, 2026.
Permit to purchase#
- Handguns
- Yes. Buyers need a pistol permit or a handgun eligibility certificate.
- Long guns
- Yes. Buyers need a long gun eligibility certificate (or a pistol permit or handgun eligibility certificate).
Registration#
- Partial. 'Assault weapons' and large-capacity magazines owned before the bans had to be declared or registered, and transfers are reported to the state police.
Carrying a handgun#
- Permitless carry
- No.
- Concealed carry permit
- Shall-issue with a 'suitability' standard (the state pistol permit).
- Open carry
- Prohibited since Oct. 2023 (Public Act 23-53).
- Reciprocity
- Doesn't honor other states' carry permits; visitors need a nonresident permit, where one is available.
“Assault weapon” rules#
- Yes, expanded in 2023. This law is one of the two cases now before the U.S. Supreme Court (Grant v. Higgins, No. 25-566; review granted June 30, 2026; oral argument scheduled for Dec. 2, 2026, not yet heard).
Magazine limits#
- 10 rounds. Possessing larger magazines is prohibited unless they were declared before the ban.
Waiting period#
- No fixed waiting period in the statutes was identified, but buyers must get a permit or eligibility certificate first.
Background checks and private sales#
- Yes, universal.
Red flag (ERPO) law#
- Yes. Connecticut's risk warrant law (1999) was the first in the nation and has since been expanded.
Suppressors, SBRs and SBSs#
- Suppressors
- Legal to own under state law if federal requirements are met (see the national NFA note).
- Short-barreled rifles and shotguns
- Legal under state law if federal requirements are met (see the national NFA note).
About the October 2026 federal NFA change
On October 9, 2026, ATF said it will stop enforcing the NFA's approval and registration requirements for suppressors, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and AOWs. Where Connecticut allows these items only if federal requirements are met, it isn't settled how state law treats an item that is no longer federally registered. Check with state authorities before relying on ATF's change.
Ammunition#
- Yes. Buyers must show a pistol permit, eligibility certificate or ammunition certificate.
Minimum ages#
- Handgun purchase
- 21
- Long gun purchase
- 18 (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-37a(b)(1)); the long gun eligibility certificate is issued at 18 (§ 29-37p). 21 for a semi-automatic centerfire rifle that has or accepts a magazine holding more than five rounds, in any sale, with exceptions for police and military (§ 29-37a(b)(2)).
Shipping and buying online#
- Most online ammunition sellers won't ship to CT without verifying a permit or certificate. Magazines over 10 rounds and rifles with 'assault weapon' features can't be sold to CT buyers. A new 2026 law (PA 26-41) would restrict the sale and import of 'convertible pistols' made on or after Oct. 1, 2026, but federal preliminary injunctions (Sept. 30, 2026) currently block those sales provisions.
Buying a firearm online means it ships to a licensed dealer, who completes the transfer. Find one near you in the Dealer Finder. Retailers make the final call on what they'll ship, so always check their policy too.
Pending legislation and litigation#
Bills, ballot measures, rules and court cases that could change the rules in Connecticut. We check this list every week; last scan . See everything we're tracking.
Open (3)
Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins
Nos. 25-238 and 25-566 · U.S. Supreme Court
Status:
These two cases ask the Supreme Court whether the Second Amendment protects AR-15-platform and similar semiautomatic rifles. One comes from Cook County, Illinois, and the other from Connecticut's 'assault weapon' ban. The Court agreed to hear them together.
What it would change: A ruling could decide whether state and local 'assault weapon' bans can stand, which would affect the entries for many states. A decision is expected by mid-2027.
Next key date: Oral argument,
Status history (4)
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Sources:U.S. Supreme Court docket 25-238 ↗U.S. Supreme Court docket 25-566 ↗
Added · Last checked
Glock, Inc. v. Griffin and NSSF v. Griffin (convertible pistol sales ban)
Nos. 3:26-cv-01525 and 3:26-cv-01528 · U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
Status:
Connecticut's Public Act 26-41 targets 'convertible pistols': semi-automatic pistols with a cruciform trigger bar (the cross-shaped part found in Glock-style striker-fired pistols) that can readily be turned into a machine gun with a simple converter. Hammer-fired pistols and pistols with a molded shield tab that can't easily be removed aren't covered. The law makes it a felony to import, advertise or sell convertible pistols made on or after Oct. 1, 2026. Glock, and separately NSSF with a pistol maker and a range, sued. On Sept. 30, 2026 Judge Kari A. Dooley found the ban likely violates the Second Amendment and issued preliminary injunctions (temporary orders) blocking the state's prosecutors and the DESPP commissioner from enforcing it while the cases continue.
What it would change: While the injunctions stand, the state can't enforce the ban on importing, advertising and selling newly made convertible pistols. If the state wins in the end (or on appeal), the ban could take effect. A convertible pistol actually fitted with a converter is still treated as a machine gun.
Next key date: Deadline for Glock to amend its complaint (Glock case scheduling order),
Status history (5)
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Sources:Preliminary injunction ruling, Glock, Inc. v. Griffin (D. Conn. Sept. 30, 2026) ↗Injunction, NSSF v. Griffin (D. Conn. Sept. 30, 2026) ↗CGA bill status - HB 5043 (2026), Public Act 26-41 ↗CourtListener docket - Glock, Inc. v. Griffin, No. 3:26-cv-01525 (unofficial) ↗CourtListener docket - NSSF v. Griffin, No. 3:26-cv-01528 (unofficial) ↗
Added · Last checked
NAGR v. Lamont
No. 25-421 · U.S. Supreme Court (cert petition)
Status:
Challengers asked the Supreme Court to review Connecticut's gun laws, including its magazine limit. The Court hasn't acted on the petition yet.
What it would change: If granted and decided against the state, Connecticut's restrictions could change.
Status history (3)
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Sources:U.S. Supreme Court docket 25-421 ↗
Added · Last checked
Sources and official links#
- Connecticut General Statutes Ch. 529 · Officialhttps://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_529.htm
- CT Dept. of Emergency Services & Public Protection · Officialhttps://portal.ct.gov/despp
- SCOTUS docket 25-566 (Grant v. Higgins) · Court recordhttps://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-566.html
- SCOTUS docket 25-421 (NAGR v. Lamont) · Court recordhttps://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-421.html
- CGA bill status - HB 5043 (2026), Public Act 26-41 · Officialhttps://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2026&bill_num=5043
- Preliminary injunction ruling, Glock, Inc. v. Griffin (D. Conn. Sept. 30, 2026) · Court recordhttps://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ctd.173033/gov.uscourts.ctd.173033.31.0.pdf
- Injunction, NSSF v. Griffin (D. Conn. Sept. 30, 2026) · Court recordhttps://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ctd.173040/gov.uscourts.ctd.173040.45.0.pdf
- Conn. Gen. Stat. chapter 529, 2026 Supplement (Connecticut General Assembly) · Officialhttps://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/sup/chap_529.htm
Connecticut entry last reviewed . Official state sites can move or change; if a link stops working, search the agency's site for the same title.
Notes that apply everywhere
Federal NFA change (suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, AOWs)
Congress set the federal NFA making and transfer tax to $0 for suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs) and 'any other weapons' effective January 1, 2026 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act, 2025). After a federal district court ruling (Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF, N.D. Tex., Aug. 5, 2026), ATF published an open letter from Director Robert Cekada, a press release, a fact sheet and an FAQ saying that as of October 9, 2026 it will not enforce the NFA's approval, registration, tax-stamp and related requirements for those four items, for everyone. Machine guns and destructive devices remain fully regulated. The Gun Control Act still applies, including dealer background checks, the prohibited-person rules, and an approved Form 20 to take an SBR or SBS across state lines, and dealers still may not sell in violation of state or local law. ATF says this does not override state or local law. A state that bans these items still bans them. Many state laws make these items legal only if they are 'registered' or 'lawful under federal law', and how those state laws apply to unregistered items is currently unclear. ATF also warns that enforcement could resume if the law, the ruling or DOJ policy changes. Keep this note in mind whenever you read a state's suppressor, SBR or SBS entry.
U.S. Supreme Court 'assault weapon' cases
The Supreme Court granted review (June 30, 2026) in Viramontes v. Cook County (No. 25-238, a Cook County, IL ordinance) and Grant v. Higgins (No. 25-566, Connecticut). The question is whether the Second Amendment protects possession of AR-15-platform rifles. The cases are scheduled for oral argument on December 2, 2026 (not yet argued as of October 15, 2026), and a decision is expected by mid-2027. Magazine-limit petitions (for example Duncan v. Bonta from CA and NAGR v. Lamont from CT) and New Jersey's petition (No. 26-452) were pending as of mid-October 2026. Every state 'assault weapon' and magazine entry could change as a result.
supremecourt.gov ↗supremecourt.gov ↗supremecourt.gov ↗supremecourt.gov ↗supremecourt.gov ↗
Wolford v. Lopez (U.S. Supreme Court, June 25, 2026)
The Court struck down Hawaii's rule that licensed carriers may not carry on private property open to the public without the owner's express permission. Similar 'default no-carry on private property' rules in some other states (for example CA, NY, NJ and MD) may be affected. This guide hasn't verified how each state has responded.
Federal minimum ages
Under federal law, licensed dealers may sell handguns only to buyers 21 and older, and long guns only to buyers 18 and older. Federal courts have split on whether the 18-20 handgun-sale restriction is constitutional, and this guide doesn't try to resolve that litigation. State rules on how old minors must be to possess guns aren't fully covered here.
Local ordinances
Many cities and counties (for example Chicago and Cook County, IL; Denver and Boulder, CO; Philadelphia, PA; and New York City) have rules stricter than state law. This guide covers state-level law only.
All states, DC and territories · Federal law
Disclaimer
The firearm law information in Firearms Almanac's Laws & Regulations guide (federal, state and territory) is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. It is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. Firearm laws change frequently, differ by city and county, and are often affected by court decisions that can take effect with little notice. We try to keep this guide accurate and cite official sources, but we make no guarantee that any entry is complete, current, or correct, and we are not responsible for actions taken based on it. Before buying, selling, carrying, transporting, or shipping any firearm, ammunition, magazine, or accessory, check the current law with the official federal, state or territory source linked on each page and, where appropriate, a qualified attorney. Retailers listed on this site set their own shipping and sales policies and are responsible for complying with the law. Each entry shows the date it was last checked. See also our site Disclaimer.