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EspañolI do not have a protection order and the abuser has not been convicted of a crime. Are there any other reasons why it’d be illegal for the abuser to have a gun in Connecticut?
Even if you do not have a restraining order and the abuser has not been convicted of any crime, there are other reasons s/he might be forbidden from having a gun. It is illegal under Connecticut state law to have a firearm or ammunition if any of the following are true:
- s/he has a final firearms seizure order issued against him/her;
- s/he has a risk protection order or risk protection investigation order issued against him/her;
- s/he has 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;
- within the past five years, s/he was in a psychiatric hospital by order of a probate court;
- within the past six months, s/he voluntarily admitted him/herself to a psychiatric hospital or was committed under an emergency certificate; Note: 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;
- s/he has been adjudicated as a “mental defective” or has been committed to a mental institution; or
- s/he is a fugitive 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:
- s/he meets any of the conditions listed above;
- s/he is under age 21; or
- s/he is 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 Staying Safe 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 the CT 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 C.G.S.A. § 53a-217(a); 18 USC § 922(g)(2), (g)(4)
2 C.G.S.A § 29-36f
