Connecticut 2025 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB07194 Introduced / Bill

Filed 03/05/2025

                         
 
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General Assembly  Raised Bill No. 7194  
January Session, 2025 
LCO No. 5895 
 
 
Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY  
 
 
Introduced by:  
(JUD)  
 
 
AN ACT CONCERNING SELF -DEFENSE AND CONCERNING THE 
TRANSFER OF LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES AND ASSAULT 
WEAPONS. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section 1. Section 53-203 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 2 
(a) Any person who [intentionally] recklessly, negligently or 3 
carelessly discharges any firearm in such a manner as to be likely to 4 
cause bodily injury or death to persons or domestic animals, or the 5 
wanton destruction of property, shall be guilty of a class C 6 
misdemeanor. 7 
(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not be 8 
construed to prohibit the intentional discharge of a firearm for the 9 
purpose of lawful self-defense or lawful defense of another person. 10 
Sec. 2. Section 26-66 of the general statutes is repealed and the 11 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 12 
The commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with the 13 
provisions of chapter 54 governing the taking of wildlife, provided any 14 
regulations concerning the taking of migratory game birds shall be 15     
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consistent with section 26-91. The regulations may: (1) Establish the 16 
open and closed seasons, which may be modified by decreasing or 17 
increasing the number of days for any specific species, (2) establish 18 
hours, days or periods during the open season when hunting shall not 19 
be permitted for specific species, (3) establish legal hours, (4) prescribe 20 
the legal methods, including type, kind, gauge and caliber of weapons 21 
and ammunition, including long bow, (5) prescribe the sex of wildlife 22 
that may be taken on a state-wide or local area basis, (6) establish the 23 
daily bag limit and the season bag limit, (7) establish the maximum 24 
number of persons that may hunt on designated areas during any 25 
twenty-four-hour period, (8) require that a permit be obtained from the 26 
landowner or such landowner's agent, or the commissioner or such 27 
commissioner's agent, to enter upon designated premises or areas for 28 
the purpose of hunting, and further require that such permit be returned 29 
within a specified time to the issuing authority with an accurate report 30 
of all wildlife taken under such permit, the time spent on the premises 31 
or area and any other data required by the commissioner for 32 
management purposes, (9) establish areas that shall be restricted for 33 
designated periods for hunting only with long bow or other specified 34 
weapons, (10) establish areas that shall be restricted for designated 35 
periods for hunting exclusively by persons with physical disabilities, 36 
(11) establish requirements and procedures for tagging and reporting 37 
birds or animals taken by hunting or trapping, [;] and (12) provided no 38 
regulation or order prohibits or may be construed to prohibit the 39 
intentional discharge of a firearm for the purpose of lawful self-defense 40 
or lawful defense of another person, in the interest of public safety and 41 
for the purpose of preventing unreasonable conduct and abuses by 42 
hunters, and to provide reasonable control of the actions and behavior 43 
of such persons, said commissioner may issue regulations and orders to 44 
[(12)] (A) prohibit the carrying of loaded firearms and hunting within 45 
specified distances of buildings, [(13)] (B) prohibit the discharge of 46 
firearms and other hunting devices within specified distances of 47 
buildings and, when within specified distances, the discharge of such 48 
firearms and devices toward persons, buildings and livestock, [(14)] (C) 49     
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prohibit hunting while on any road adjacent to any state park, state 50 
forest, premises used for the breeding, rearing or holding in captivity of 51 
wildlife or premises used for zoological purposes, [(15)] (D) establish 52 
minimum distances between fixed positions, floating and drift blinds 53 
for waterfowl hunting, [(16)] (E) prohibit crossing over lawns and lands 54 
under cultivation, [(17)] (F) prohibit damage to property, livestock and 55 
agricultural crops, [(18)] (G) prohibit, during specified periods on 56 
designated areas, the training, exercising and running of dogs under 57 
control or uncontrolled, [(19)] (H) prohibit the operation and parking of 58 
vehicles on designated portions of public and private roads, parking 59 
areas, lanes, passageways, rights-of-way, fields and lots, [(20)] (I) 60 
prohibit the discarding of bottles, glass, cans, paper, junk, litter and 61 
trash, [(21)] (J) control the launching, anchoring, mooring, storage and 62 
abandonment of boats, trailers and related equipment on properties 63 
under the control of the commissioner, [(22)] (K) specify [(A)] (i) the 64 
persons who shall wear fluorescent orange clothing, [(B)] (ii) the time 65 
periods during which such clothing shall be worn, and [(C)] (iii) the 66 
types and amounts of such clothing which shall be worn, on and after 67 
January 1, 1989, when hunting. 68 
Sec. 3. Section 53-202w of the general statutes is repealed and the 69 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 70 
(a) As used in this section and section 53-202x: 71 
(1) "Large capacity magazine" means any firearm magazine, belt, 72 
drum, feed strip or similar device that has the capacity of, or can be 73 
readily restored or converted to accept, more than ten rounds of 74 
ammunition, but does not include: (A) A feeding device that has been 75 
permanently altered so that it cannot accommodate more than ten 76 
rounds of ammunition, (B) a .22 caliber tube ammunition feeding 77 
device, (C) a tubular magazine that is contained in a lever-action 78 
firearm, or (D) a magazine that is permanently inoperable; 79 
(2) "Lawfully possesses", with respect to a large capacity magazine, 80     
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means that a person has (A) actual and lawful possession of the large 81 
capacity magazine, (B) constructive possession of the large capacity 82 
magazine pursuant to a lawful purchase of a firearm that contains a 83 
large capacity magazine that was transacted prior to or on April 4, 2013, 84 
regardless of whether the firearm was delivered to the purchaser prior 85 
to or on April 4, 2013, which lawful purchase is evidenced by a writing 86 
sufficient to indicate that (i) a contract for sale was made between the 87 
parties prior to or on April 4, 2013, for the purchase of the firearm, or (ii) 88 
full or partial payment for the firearm was made by the purchaser to the 89 
seller of the firearm prior to or on April 4, 2013, or (C) actual possession 90 
under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, or constructive possession 91 
under subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, as evidenced by a written 92 
statement made under penalty of false statement on such form as the 93 
Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection prescribes; 94 
and 95 
(3) "Licensed gun dealer" means a person who has a federal firearms 96 
license and a permit to sell firearms pursuant to section 29-28. 97 
(b) Except as provided in this section, on and after April 5, 2013, any 98 
person who, within this state, distributes, imports into this state, keeps 99 
for sale, offers or exposes for sale, or purchases a large capacity 100 
magazine shall be guilty of a class D felony. On and after April 5, 2013, 101 
any person who, within this state, transfers a large capacity magazine, 102 
except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, shall be guilty of a 103 
class D felony. 104 
(c) Except as provided in this section and section 53-202x, any person 105 
who possesses a large capacity magazine shall be guilty of a (1) class D 106 
felony if such person is ineligible to possess a firearm under state or 107 
federal law, or (2) class A misdemeanor if such person is not ineligible 108 
to possess a firearm under state or federal law. 109 
(d) A large capacity magazine may be possessed, purchased or 110 
imported by: 111     
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(1) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, 112 
police departments, the Department of Correction, the Division of 113 
Criminal Justice, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of 114 
Energy and Environmental Protection or the military or naval forces of 115 
this state or of the United States; 116 
(2) A sworn and duly certified member of an organized police 117 
department, the Division of State Police within the Department of 118 
Emergency Services and Public Protection or the Department of 119 
Correction, a chief inspector or inspector in the Division of Criminal 120 
Justice, a salaried inspector of motor vehicles designated by the 121 
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, a conservation officer or special 122 
conservation officer appointed by the Commissioner of Energy and 123 
Environmental Protection pursuant to section 26-5, or a constable who 124 
is certified by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council and 125 
appointed by the chief executive authority of a town, city or borough to 126 
perform criminal law enforcement duties, for use by such sworn 127 
member, inspector, officer or constable in the discharge of such sworn 128 
member's, inspector's, officer's or constable's official duties or when off 129 
duty; 130 
(3) A member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the 131 
United States; 132 
(4) A nuclear facility licensed by the United States Nuclear 133 
Regulatory Commission for the purpose of providing security services 134 
at such facility, or any contractor or subcontractor of such facility for the 135 
purpose of providing security services at such facility; 136 
(5) Any person who is sworn and acts as a policeman on behalf of an 137 
armored car service pursuant to section 29-20 in the discharge of such 138 
person's official duties; or 139 
(6) Any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of 140 
manufacturing large capacity magazines in this state that manufactures, 141 
purchases, tests or transports large capacity magazines in this state for 142     
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sale within this state to persons specified in subdivisions (1) to (5), 143 
inclusive, of this subsection or for sale outside this state, or a federally-144 
licensed firearm manufacturer engaged in the business of 145 
manufacturing firearms or large capacity magazines in this state that 146 
manufactures, purchases, tests or transports firearms or large capacity 147 
magazines in this state for sale within this state to persons specified in 148 
subdivisions (1) to (5), inclusive, of this subsection or for sale outside 149 
this state. 150 
(e) A large capacity magazine may be possessed by: 151 
(1) A licensed gun dealer; 152 
(2) A gunsmith who is in a licensed gun dealer's employ, who 153 
possesses such large capacity magazine for the purpose of servicing or 154 
repairing a lawfully possessed large capacity magazine; 155 
(3) A person, firm, corporation or federally-licensed firearm 156 
manufacturer described in subdivision (6) of subsection (d) of this 157 
section that possesses a large capacity magazine that is lawfully 158 
possessed by another person for the purpose of servicing or repairing 159 
the large capacity magazine; 160 
(4) Any person who has declared possession of the magazine 161 
pursuant to section 53-202x; or 162 
(5) Any person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that 163 
includes a large capacity magazine, or the trustee of a trust that includes 164 
a large capacity magazine, the possession of which has been declared to 165 
the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection pursuant 166 
to section 53-202x, which is disposed of as authorized by the Probate 167 
Court, if the disposition is otherwise permitted by this section and 168 
section 53-202x. 169 
(f) Subsection (b) of this section shall not prohibit: 170 
(1) The transfer of a large capacity magazine, the possession of which 171     
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has been declared to the Department of Emergency Services and Public 172 
Protection pursuant to section 53-202x, by bequest or intestate 173 
succession, or, upon the death of a testator or settlor: (A) To a trust, or 174 
(B) from a trust to a beneficiary; 175 
(2) The transfer of a large capacity magazine to a police department 176 
or the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; 177 
(3) The transfer of a large capacity magazine to a licensed gun dealer 178 
in accordance with section 53-202x; [or] 179 
(4) The transfer of a large capacity magazine prior to October 1, 2013, 180 
from a licensed gun dealer, pawnbroker licensed under section 21-40, or 181 
consignment shop operator, as defined in section 21-39a, to any person 182 
who (A) possessed the large capacity magazine prior to or on April 4, 183 
2013, (B) placed a firearm that such person legally possessed, with the 184 
large capacity magazine included or attached, in the possession of such 185 
dealer, pawnbroker or operator prior to or on April 4, 2013, pursuant to 186 
an agreement between such person and such dealer, pawnbroker or 187 
operator for the sale of the firearm to a third person, and (C) is eligible 188 
to possess the firearm on the date of such transfer; or 189 
(5) The transfer of a large capacity magazine within this state between 190 
any of the persons specified in subdivisions (1) to (5), inclusive, of 191 
subsection (e) of this section. 192 
(g) The court may order suspension of prosecution in addition to any 193 
other diversionary programs available to the defendant, if the court 194 
finds that a violation of this section is not of a serious nature and that 195 
the person charged with such violation (1) will probably not offend in 196 
the future, (2) has not previously been convicted of a violation of this 197 
section, and (3) has not previously had a prosecution under this section 198 
suspended pursuant to this subsection, it may order suspension of 199 
prosecution in accordance with the provisions of subsection (i) of section 200 
29-33. 201     
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Sec. 4. Section 53-202d of the general statutes is repealed and the 202 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 203 
(a) (1) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, 204 
any person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon, as defined in 205 
subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, prior to October 206 
1, 1993, shall apply by October 1, 1994, or, if such person is a member of 207 
the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States and is 208 
unable to apply by October 1, 1994, because such member is or was on 209 
official duty outside of this state, shall apply within ninety days of 210 
returning to the state to the Department of Emergency Services and 211 
Public Protection, for a certificate of possession with respect to such 212 
assault weapon. 213 
(B) No person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon pursuant to 214 
subdivision (1), (2) or (4) of subsection (b) of section 53-202c shall be 215 
required to obtain a certificate of possession pursuant to this subdivision 216 
with respect to an assault weapon used for official duties, except that 217 
any person described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 53-218 
202c who purchases an assault weapon, as defined in subparagraph (A) 219 
of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, for use in the discharge of official 220 
duties who retires or is otherwise separated from service shall apply 221 
within ninety days of such retirement or separation from service to the 222 
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a 223 
certificate of possession with respect to such assault weapon. 224 
(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, 225 
any person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon, as defined in any 226 
provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of 227 
section 53-202a, on April 4, 2013, under the provisions of sections 53-228 
202a to 53-202k, inclusive, in effect on January 1, 2013, or any person 229 
who regains possession of an assault weapon as defined in any 230 
provision of said subparagraphs pursuant to subsection (e) of section 231 
53-202f, or any person who lawfully purchases a firearm on or after 232 
April 4, 2013, but prior to June 18, 2013, that meets the criteria set forth 233     
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in subdivision (3) or (4) of subsection (a) of section 53-202a of the general 234 
statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2013, shall apply by 235 
January 1, 2014, or, if such person is a member of the military or naval 236 
forces of this state or of the United States and is unable to apply by 237 
January 1, 2014, because such member is or was on official duty outside 238 
of this state, shall apply within ninety days of returning to the state to 239 
the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a 240 
certificate of possession with respect to such assault weapon. Any 241 
person who lawfully purchases a semiautomatic pistol that is defined as 242 
an assault weapon in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), 243 
inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a that the Commissioner of 244 
Emergency Services and Public Protection designates as being designed 245 
expressly for use in target shooting events at the Olympic games 246 
sponsored by the International Olympic Committee pursuant to 247 
regulations adopted under subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 248 
53-202b shall apply within ninety days of such purchase to the 249 
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a 250 
certificate of possession with respect to such assault weapon. 251 
(B) No person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon pursuant to 252 
subdivision (1), (2) or (4) of subsection (b) of section 53-202c shall be 253 
required to obtain a certificate of possession pursuant to this subdivision 254 
with respect to an assault weapon used for official duties, except that 255 
any person described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 53-256 
202c who purchases an assault weapon, as defined in any provision of 257 
subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a 258 
for use in the discharge of official duties who retires or is otherwise 259 
separated from service shall apply within ninety days of such retirement 260 
or separation from service to the Department of Emergency Services and 261 
Public Protection for a certificate of possession with respect to such 262 
assault weapon. 263 
(3) Any person who obtained a certificate of possession for an assault 264 
weapon, as defined in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of section 53-265 
202a, prior to April 5, 2013, that is defined as an assault weapon 266     
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pursuant to any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of 267 
subdivision (1) of section 53-202a shall be deemed to have obtained a 268 
certificate of possession for such assault weapon for the purposes of 269 
sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, and shall not be required to obtain 270 
a subsequent certificate of possession for such assault weapon. 271 
(4) (A) Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of this 272 
subdivision, any person who lawfully possesses a 2023 assault weapon 273 
on June 5, 2023, under the provisions of sections 53-202a to 53-202k, 274 
inclusive, in effect on January 1, 2023, or any person who regains 275 
possession of a 2023 assault weapon pursuant to subdivision (2) of 276 
subsection (e) of section 53-202f, shall apply by May 1, 2024, or, if such 277 
person is a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the 278 
United States and is unable to apply by May 1, 2024, because such 279 
member is or was on official duty outside of this state, shall apply within 280 
ninety days of returning to the state to the Department of Emergency 281 
Services and Public Protection for a certificate of possession with respect 282 
to such assault weapon. The Department of Emergency Services and 283 
Public Protection shall accept applications both in paper and electronic 284 
form, to the extent practicable, and shall not require such applications 285 
be notarized. 286 
(B) No person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon pursuant to 287 
subdivision (1), (2) or (4) of subsection (b) of section 53-202c shall be 288 
required to obtain a certificate of possession pursuant to this subdivision 289 
with respect to an assault weapon used for official duties, except that 290 
any person described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 53-291 
202c who purchases a 2023 assault weapon for use in the discharge of 292 
official duties who retires or is otherwise separated from service shall 293 
apply within ninety days of such retirement or separation from service 294 
to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a 295 
certificate of possession with respect to such assault weapon. 296 
(C) Any person who lawfully possesses a 2023 assault weapon 297 
pursuant to the provisions of subsection (f) of section 53-202c and whose 298     
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Form 1 application to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 299 
Explosives has not yet been processed may, instead of following the 300 
procedure specified in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, apply by 301 
May 1, 2024, to the Department of Emergency Services and Public 302 
Protection for a temporary certificate of possession with respect to such 303 
assault weapon. Such temporary certificate of possession shall expire on 304 
the earlier of January 1, 2027, and the date seven days succeeding a 305 
denial of the Form 1 application. When the Form 1 application is 306 
approved with respect to such assault weapon, such person may apply 307 
to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to 308 
convert such temporary certificate of possession into a certificate of 309 
possession with respect to such assault weapon. If a complete 310 
application to convert is received, the Commissioner of Emergency 311 
Services and Public Protection shall approve the application. For the 312 
purposes of this subparagraph, a full and complete Form 1 application 313 
submitted to the Department of Emergency Services and Public 314 
Protection in a form and manner determined by the department shall be 315 
sufficient to constitute a complete application for a temporary certificate 316 
of possession, and a copy of the notice that a Form 1 application has 317 
been approved shall constitute a complete application to convert a 318 
temporary certificate of possession into a certificate of possession. The 319 
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall accept 320 
applications under this subparagraph both in paper and electronic form, 321 
to the extent practicable, and shall not require such applications to be 322 
notarized. 323 
(5) Any person who obtained a certificate of possession for an assault 324 
weapon, as defined in any provision of subparagraphs (A) to (F), 325 
inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a prior to June 6, 2023, that 326 
is also a 2023 assault weapon shall be deemed to have obtained a 327 
certificate of possession for such assault weapon for the purposes of 328 
sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, and shall not be required to obtain 329 
a subsequent certificate of possession for such assault weapon. 330 
(6) The certificate of possession shall contain a description of the 331     
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firearm that identifies it uniquely, including all identification marks, the 332 
full name, address, date of birth and thumbprint of the owner, and any 333 
other information as the department may deem appropriate. 334 
(7) The department shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the 335 
provisions of chapter 54, to establish procedures with respect to the 336 
application for and issuance of certificates of possession pursuant to this 337 
section. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1-210 and 1-211, the 338 
name and address of a person issued a certificate of possession shall be 339 
confidential and shall not be disclosed, except such records may be 340 
disclosed to (A) law enforcement agencies and employees of the United 341 
States Probation Office acting in the performance of their duties and 342 
parole officers within the Department of Correction acting in the 343 
performance of their duties, and (B) the Commissioner of Mental Health 344 
and Addiction Services to carry out the provisions of subsection (c) of 345 
section 17a-500. 346 
(b) (1) No assault weapon, as defined in subparagraph (A) of 347 
subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, possessed pursuant to a certificate of 348 
possession issued under this section may be sold or transferred on or 349 
after January 1, 1994, to any person within this state other than to a 350 
licensed gun dealer, as defined in subsection (f) of section 53-202f, or as 351 
provided in section 53-202e, or as provided in subsection (g) of section 352 
53-202f, as amended by this act, or by bequest or intestate succession, or, 353 
upon the death of a testator or settlor: (A) To a trust, or (B) from a trust 354 
to a beneficiary who is eligible to possess the assault weapon. 355 
(2) No assault weapon, as defined in any provision of subparagraphs 356 
(B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, possessed 357 
pursuant to a certificate of possession issued under this section may be 358 
sold or transferred on or after April 5, 2013, to any person within this 359 
state other than to a licensed gun dealer, as defined in subsection (f) of 360 
section 53-202f, or as provided in section 53-202e, or as provided in 361 
subsection (g) of section 53-202f, as amended by this act, or by bequest 362 
or intestate succession, or, upon the death of a testator or settlor: (A) To 363     
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a trust, or (B) from a trust to a beneficiary who is eligible to possess the 364 
assault weapon. 365 
(3) No 2023 assault weapon possessed pursuant to a certificate of 366 
possession issued under this section may be sold or transferred on or 367 
after June 6, 2023, to any person within this state other than to a licensed 368 
gun dealer, or as provided in section 53-202e, or as provided in 369 
subsection (g) of section 53-202f, as amended by this act, or by bequest 370 
or intestate succession, or, upon the death of a testator or settlor: (A) To 371 
a trust, or (B) from a trust to a beneficiary who is eligible to possess the 372 
assault weapon. 373 
(c) Any person who obtains title to an assault weapon for which a 374 
certificate of possession has been issued under this section by (1) 375 
transfer pursuant to subsection (g) of section 53-202f, as amended by 376 
this act, or (2) bequest or intestate succession shall, within ninety days 377 
of obtaining title, apply to the Department of Emergency Services and 378 
Public Protection for a certificate of possession as provided in subsection 379 
(a) of this section, render the assault weapon permanently inoperable, 380 
sell the assault weapon to a licensed gun dealer or remove the assault 381 
weapon from the state. 382 
(d) Any person who moves into the state in lawful possession of an 383 
assault weapon, shall, within ninety days, either render the assault 384 
weapon permanently inoperable, sell the assault weapon to a licensed 385 
gun dealer or remove the assault weapon from this state, except that any 386 
person who is a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of 387 
the United States, is in lawful possession of an assault weapon and has 388 
been transferred into the state after October 1, 1994, may, within ninety 389 
days of arriving in the state, apply to the Department of Emergency 390 
Services and Public Protection for a certificate of possession with respect 391 
to such assault weapon. 392 
(e) If an owner of an assault weapon sells or transfers the assault 393 
weapon to a licensed gun dealer, such dealer shall, at the time of 394     
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delivery of the assault weapon, execute a certificate of transfer and cause 395 
the certificate of transfer to be mailed or delivered to the Commissioner 396 
of Emergency Services and Public Protection. The certificate of transfer 397 
shall contain: (1) The date of sale or transfer; (2) the name and address 398 
of the seller or transferor and the licensed gun dealer, their Social 399 
Security numbers or motor vehicle operator license numbers, if 400 
applicable; (3) the licensed gun dealer's federal firearms license number 401 
and seller's permit number; (4) a description of the assault weapon, 402 
including the caliber of the assault weapon and its make, model and 403 
serial number; and (5) any other information the commissioner 404 
prescribes. The licensed gun dealer shall present such dealer's motor 405 
vehicle operator's license or Social Security card, federal firearms license 406 
and seller's permit to the seller or transferor for inspection at the time of 407 
purchase or transfer. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and 408 
Public Protection shall maintain a file of all certificates of transfer at the 409 
commissioner's central office. 410 
(f) Any person who has been issued a certificate of possession for an 411 
assault weapon under this section may possess the assault weapon only 412 
under the following conditions: 413 
(1) At that person's residence, place of business or other property 414 
owned by that person, or on property owned by another person with 415 
the owner's express permission; 416 
(2) While on the premises of a target range of a public or private club 417 
or organization organized for the purpose of practicing shooting at 418 
targets; 419 
(3) While on a target range which holds a regulatory or business 420 
license for the purpose of practicing shooting at that target range; 421 
(4) While on the premises of a licensed shooting club; 422 
(5) While attending any exhibition, display or educational project 423 
which is about firearms and which is sponsored by, conducted under 424     
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the auspices of, or approved by a law enforcement agency or a 425 
nationally or state recognized entity that fosters proficiency in, or 426 
promotes education about, firearms; 427 
(6) While transporting the assault weapon between any of the places 428 
set forth in this subsection, or to any licensed gun dealer, as defined in 429 
subsection (f) of section 53-202f, for servicing or repair pursuant to 430 
subsection (c) of section 53-202f, or for purposes of a transfer pursuant 431 
to subsection (g) of section 53-202f, as amended by this act, provided the 432 
assault weapon is transported as required by section 53-202f, as 433 
amended by this act; 434 
(7) With respect to a nonresident of this state, while transporting a 435 
semiautomatic pistol that is defined as an assault weapon in any 436 
provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of 437 
section 53-202a that the Commissioner of Emergency Services and 438 
Public Protection designates as being designed expressly for use in 439 
target shooting events at the Olympic games sponsored by the 440 
International Olympic Committee pursuant to regulations adopted 441 
under subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 53-202b, into or 442 
through this state in order to attend any exhibition, display or 443 
educational project described in subdivision (5) of this subsection, or to 444 
participate in a collegiate, Olympic or target pistol shooting competition 445 
in this state which is sponsored by, conducted under the auspices of, or 446 
approved by a law enforcement agency or a nationally or state 447 
recognized entity that fosters proficiency in, or promotes education 448 
about, firearms, provided (A) such pistol is transported into or through 449 
this state not more than forty-eight hours prior to or after such 450 
exhibition, display, project or competition, (B) such pistol is unloaded 451 
and carried in a locked carrying case and the ammunition for such pistol 452 
is carried in a separate locked container, (C) such nonresident has not 453 
been convicted of a felony in this state or of an offense in another state 454 
that would constitute a felony if committed in this state, and (D) such 455 
nonresident has in his or her possession a pistol permit or firearms 456 
registration card if such permit or card is required for possession of such 457     
Raised Bill No.  7194 
 
 
 
LCO No. 5895   	16 of 16 
 
pistol under the laws of his or her state of residence. 458 
Sec. 5. Section 53-202f of the general statutes is amended by adding 459 
subsection (g) as follows (Effective July 1, 2025): 460 
(NEW) (g) (1) Any licensed gun dealer, as defined in subsection (f) of 461 
this section, may take possession of any assault weapon from any 462 
person to whom has been issued a certificate of possession for such 463 
weapon pursuant to sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, for purposes 464 
of transferring such assault weapon to another person pursuant to 465 
subdivision (2) of this subsection. 466 
(2) Any licensed gun dealer may transfer possession of any assault 467 
weapon received pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection to a 468 
person who lawfully possesses another assault weapon and to whom 469 
has previously been issued a certificate of possession for such weapon 470 
pursuant to sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive. 471 
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following 
sections: 
 
Section 1 October 1, 2025 53-203 
Sec. 2 October 1, 2025 26-66 
Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 53-202w 
Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 53-202d 
Sec. 5 July 1, 2025 53-202f(g) 
 
Statement of Purpose:   
To (1) clarify provisions concerning the discharge of firearms in the case 
of self-defense or in lawful defense of another person, including for 
purposes of regulations concerning hunting, and (2) allow the legal 
transfer of large capacity magazines possessed under a declaration of 
possession and assault weapons possessed under a certificate of 
possession between persons who are legally permitted to possess such 
magazine or weapon. 
 
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except 
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not 
underlined.]