The firearms section of the SLFU is responsible for overseeing and regulating all firearm transactions taking place within the State of Connecticut. The SLFU is the point of contact (POC) for obtaining National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) authorization numbers as required under state and federal law. The unit also maintains machine gun and assault weapon registries and is the statewide repository for firearms collected for destruction. The unit is further responsible for investigating violations of state law relating to the purchase, sale and transfer of firearms in conjunction with the Statewide Firearms Trafficking Task Force (SFTTF).
Retail sale rules and regulations for all firearms
Retail sales are made when you purchase a new or used firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer (FFL). These transactions are strictly regulated by the Special Licensing and Firearms (SLFU) and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).
You will be required to complete Federal Form 4473 and State Form DPS-67-C (Application to Purchase) for every firearm you intend to buy. The dealer will then contact the SLFU office and obtain an authorization number, allowing the transaction to proceed. The final step will be the completion of State Form DPS-3-C (Sale or Transfer), which is to be filled out at the time the firearm is delivered to the buyer.
In the event that you are denied or temporarily denied an authorization number by the SLFU, you may contact the office for an explanation. (860) 685- 8494.
Pistol and revolver regulations
Federal Law states you may only buy a handgun in the state in which you reside. You can only buy a handgun in Connecticut, if in addition to being a resident, you have a valid Permit to carry Pistols or Revolvers, a valid Eligibility Certificate, if you are a licensed Firearms Dealer or if you are a Sworn Police Officer. A DPS-3-C (4 copies) must be completed. The seller of the handgun must contact the Special Licensing and Firearms Unit and obtain an authorization number for that sale. This number is to be added to both forms. The seller should retain the original copy of the DPS-3 for their records, give one copy to the purchaser as a receipt, submit one copy to the local police authority where the purchaser resides and submit a final copy to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
Rifle and shotgun regulations
Effective April 1, 2014, per CGS Sec. 29-37a(c), no person may purchase or receive any long gun unless such person holds a valid long gun eligibility certificate issued pursuant to CGS Sec. 29-37p, a valid permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to CGS Sec. 29-28 subsection (b) a valid permit to sell at retail a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to 29-28 (a) or a valid eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to to 29-28 (a) or a valid eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to section 29-36f.
No such sale, delivery or other transfer of any long gun shall be made until the person, firm or corporation making such sale, delivery or transfer has insured that such application has been completed properly and has obtained an authorization number from the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection for such sale, delivery or transfer. In addition to the above, the seller may not sell to anyone under 18 years of age, or to anyone the seller knows is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Assault weapon regulations
Section 53-202a of the Connecticut General Statutes gives the definition, and an itemized list of what weapons are considered Assault Weapons.
Who may possess Assault Weapons in Connecticut?
Law enforcement and military personnel may possess Assault Weapons in connection with their official duties, and any person who has a Certificate of Possession issued by the Special Licensing and Firearms Unit may possess the Assault Weapon listed on their certificate.
Can I get a Certificate of Possession for my Assault Weapon now?
Yes, as long as you are a person who receives an Assault Weapon through bequeath or intestate succession providing the weapon already had a certificate. In these instances, the person has 90 days to register the weapon with the Special Licensing and Firearms Unit.
I just moved into Connecticut and I possess an Assault Weapon. May I keep the weapon or if not what are my options?
Within 90 days of moving to Connecticut, you may sell the weapon to any licensed gun dealer, or you must do one of the following;
- render the weapon permanently inoperable,
- sell it to an out of state dealer,
- relinquish the weapon to a law enforcement agency.
If you choose to keep the weapon, you risk felony arrest.
Can Connecticut gun dealers buy or sell Assault Weapons?
A licensed gun dealer may purchase an Assault Weapon only if the weapon has a Certificate of Possession, or any Assault weapon that has been transferred into Connecticut as part of someone’s personal belongings for less than 90 days. The dealer may then sell them to other dealers, law enforcement agencies, active military members over 21 years of age or out of state.
Can Police Officers buy Assault Weapons?
Yes. Sworn members may purchase Assault Weapons in connection with their official duties, but must obtain a letter on the letterhead of such department, division, commissioner or authority authorizing the purchase stating that the sworn member, officer, inspector or constable will use the assault weapon in the discharge of their official duties and that a records check indicates that the sworn member, inspector, officer or constable has not been convicted of a crime of family violence.
Gun show regulations
A “Gun Show” is defined as: any event at which fifty or more firearms are offered or exhibited for sale, transfer or exchange to the public.
All sales, transfers or exchanges taking place at a Gun Show require the seller to obtain an authorization number from the Special Licensing and Firearms Unit.
Sec. 29-37g. Gun Show requirements. (a) For the purposes of this section, (1) "gun show" means any event (A) at which fifty or more firearms are offered or exhibited for sale, transfer or exchange to the public and (B) at which two or more persons are exhibiting one or more firearms for sale, transfer or exchange to the public; and (2) "gun show promoter" means any person who organizes, plans, promotes or operates a gun show.
(b) Not later than thirty days before commencement of a gun show, the gun show promoter shall notify the chief of police or, where there is no chief of police, the warden of the borough or the first selectman of the town in which the gun show is to take place of the date, time, duration and location of the gun show.
(c) No person, firm or corporation shall sell, deliver or otherwise transfer a firearm at a gun show until such person, firm or corporation has complied with the provisions of Sec. 29-36.
Machine gun regulations
Machine Guns are strictly regulated by the U.S. Department of Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) as well as the Connecticut State Police, Special Licensing and Firearms Unit (SLFU).
Connecticut residents may purchase Machine Guns if they are capable of a “full automatic only” rate of fire. Any select fire weapon is considered an “Assault Weapon” and is prohibited by State Law.
Dealers who are licensed to sell “Machine Guns” have all the necessary Federal paperwork required for that transaction.
Any Connecticut resident who owns a “Machine Gun” is required to complete form DPS-418-C, registering that “Machine Gun” with the SLFU immediately upon receiving it and upon an annual basis thereafter. Form DPS-418-C is not available on-line, they are available from Federal Firearm License holders or by contacting SLFU.
Registered owners will be notified yearly with a registration form-letter which must be signed and returned to the SLFU.
If you currently own a “Machine Gun” and do not receive a yearly registration form, you must contact the SLFU for instructions on registering your firearm.
What might prohibit you from getting a firearm?
- No person convicted for a Felony or a Misdemeanor crime of domestic violence involving the use or threatened use of physical force or a deadly weapon may possess any firearms in Connecticut.
- No person may obtain a Pistol Permit, Eligibility Certificate, Long Gun Certificate if they are subject to a Protective or Restraining Order, or if they have been convicted of a felony, or convicted in Connecticut for any of the following misdemeanors in the preceding 20 years.
- Criminally negligent homicide - 53a-58
- Assault in the third degree - 53a-61
- Assault of a victim 60 or older in the third degree - 53a-61a
- Threatening - 53a-62
- Reckless endangerment in the first degree - 53a-63
- Unlawful restraint in the second degree - 53a-96
- Riot in the first degree - 53a-175
- Riot in the second degree - 53a-176
- Inciting to riot - 53a-178
- Stalking in the second degree - 53a-181d, or
A conviction of the following statute on or after October 1, 2015:
- Illegal possession of narcotics or other controlled substances - 21a-279(c)
Note: No person under the age of 21 may obtain a Pistol Permit or Eligibility Certificate. No Person under the age of 18 may obtain a Long Gun Eligibility Certificate.
- Other persons prohibited from possessing a firearm include anyone convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense; or has been discharged from custody within the preceding twenty years after having been found not guilty of a crime by reason of mental disease or defect; or has been confined in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities (as defined in CGS.17a-495)within the preceding twelve months by order of a probate court; or is subject to a firearms seizure order issued pursuant to CGS. 29-38c (d) after notice and hearing; is prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922(g)(4) or is an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States.
Stolen firearm regulations
Pursuant to CGS. 53-202g you are required to report the loss or theft of any assault weapon or firearm within 72 hours of it being discovered lost or stolen.
Forms and documents
You can find all the relevant paperwork you may need on our Special Licensing and Firearms Forms and Documents page.