How CT Changed Its Gun Laws After Sandy Hook Shooting

CONNECTICUT — Connecticut legislators passed wide-ranging gun control legislation shortly after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that left 20 children and six educators dead.

The bill passed the House 105-44 and the Senate 26-10 and was signed into law by Gov. Dannel Malloy in April 2013.

“We have come together in a way that relatively few places in our nation have demonstrated an ability to do in some senses,” Malloy said during the bill signing ceremony. “I hope that this is an example to the rest of the nation, certainly to our leaders in Washington, who seems so deeply divided about an issue.”

Here are some of the things the law changed:

Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines

Connecticut expanded the state assault weapon ban in 2013 by adding many firearms to the list of banned weapons. Owners of affected guns were mandated to register them in order to keep them.

Specific firearms, including many AR-15 style guns, were included in the ban, according to the state Office of Legislative Research.

The ban also applies to non-named semiautomatic center fire rifles that have specific features, such as a folding stock, forward pistol grip, or flash suppressor. Previous law required two such features in order for a non-named weapon to be banned. Similar rules apply to semiautomatic pistols and shotguns as well.

The 2013 law also banned the sale and transfer of magazines that carried more than 10 bullets to the general public. Current owners were allowed to keep higher capacity magazines, but had to register them with state police.

Long guns

The minimum age for buying a long gun is 18-years-old, or 21 if the long gun is a semiautomatic center fire rifle or the long gun can accept a magazine that can hold more than five rounds of ammunition.

Anyone who buy or receives a long gun must hold a valid state-issued gun permit or long gun certificate. Previously, no credential was required to purchase a long gun.

Those who want a long gun certificate must complete a firearm use and safety course. There are also a number of other requirements.

Background checks

The law also instituted mandatory background checks for anyone who buys or receives a long gun, regardless of whether if it comes from a dealer or non-dealer.

Mental health and guns

People confined to a psychiatric hospital by probate order must wait at least 60 months before applying for a gun permit or long gun certificate. Previously, the wait period was 12 months. Those who voluntarily admit themselves must wait six months, unless their admission was solely for alcohol or drug treatment.

Domestic violence

Police are allowed to seize ammunition while investigating domestic violence crimes. The law built upon previous rules that required police to seize firearms. Firearms and ammunition must be returned to the owner after seven days if they are legally allowed to possess them, unless a court orders otherwise.

Expanded criminal penalties

Penalties for many gun-related crimes were expanded, including mandatory minimum prison sentences for offenses such as stealing or trafficking a firearm.