State Gun Laws

Even if you do not have a restraining order and the abuser has not been convicted of any crime, there are other reasons they might be forbidden from having a gun. It is illegal under Connecticut state law to have a firearm or ammunition if they have:

1. a final firearms seizure order issued against them; 
2. a risk protection order or risk protection investigation order issued against them;
3. been discharged from custody within the past 20 years after having been found not guilty of a crime by reason of mental disease or defect;
4. been in a psychiatric hospital by order of a probate court within the past five years;
5. voluntarily admitted themselves to a psychiatric hospital or were committed under an emergency certificate within the past six months, but this does not apply if:

• the only reason for being in the hospital was alcohol or drug dependency; or
• the person is a police officer whose firearm was returned for official use;

6. been declared by a judge to be a “mental defective” or have been committed to a mental institution; or
7. fled from justice.¹

In addition, a person can be denied a certificate to carry a revolver or pistol if any of the following are true:

• they meet any of the conditions listed above;
• they are under age 21; or
• they are an undocumented immigrant who is illegally or unlawfully in the United States.²

If none of these situations apply, you can still make a plan for your safety. See our Safety Planning page for more information. You can also contact your local domestic violence organization for additional help. You may want to talk to them about whether leaving the area - either long-term or for a little while - might help improve your safety. To find a shelter or an advocate at a local program, please visit our Connecticut Advocates and Shelters page.

For additional information on gun laws in Connecticut, you can go to the Giffords Law Center website.

Also, federal laws, which apply to all states, restrict an abuser’s right to have a gun under other circumstances. Go to Federal Gun Laws to get more information.

¹ Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-217(a); 18 USC § 922(g)(2), (g)(4)
² Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-36f(a), (b)