What Will Disqualify Connecticut Residents From The Pistol Permit Process?
“I have a very strict gun control policy: if there’s a gun around, I want to be in control of it.”
Let’s be honest, Connecticut is a difficult state on many fronts, and qualifying for your Concealed Carry Permit is no different.
This article will help to clarify what the State of Connecticut is expecting and what will disqualify you from obtaining your pistol permit during the application process.
We at Prepare To Act take knowledge and safety very important, especially when it comes to firearms. Please feel free to leave a comment or send a question via email or any social media platform if we fail to cover a topic here.
What Is A Concealed Gun Permit?
Having a Connecticut Pistol Permit means that you have the ability to purchase and carry a handgun and ammunition on your person within the borders of Connecticut.
A common misconception is that Connecticut is a concealed-carry state only — this is not true.
Once you legally possess a firearm, the weapon can be covered by clothing or out in the open. This means that when you are out in public, it is completely legal for you to have your firearm on your hip exposed for the world to see.
That being said, we do not encourage this type of exposure, as it has the potential to draw unnecessary attention. Connecticut residents are issued a permit to carry pistols and revolvers, which allows both open and concealed carry, and is valid statewide.
Although open carry is not restricted by state law, the Connecticut Board of Firearms Permit Examiners suggests that “every effort should be made to ensure that no gun is exposed to view or carried in a manner that would tend to alarm people who see it.”
In February 2016, the chief state’s attorney issued a memo to police clarifying that openly carrying a holstered firearm did not constitute a violation of the breach of peace statute. The state's attorney made a comparison to operating a motor vehicle requiring another violation to launch an investigation or require the citizen to present a license/permit.
Learn more: Is Connecticut A Concealed Carry State?
What Crimes Disqualify an Applicant from Obtaining a Pistol Permit in Connecticut?
One of the most common reasons that applicants are denied their permits is that applicants fail to list information on the application regarding previous, arrests, convictions, court orders, and/or incidents with law enforcement.
Keep in mind that when applying for your permit thorough background checks are conducted, application processors will find out about past crimes. It’s in your best interest or to be forthcoming and honest. A conviction of the following crimes serves as an automatic disqualifier for anyone applying to obtain a pistol permit in Connecticut:
21a-279 - Illegal possession of narcotics or other controlled substances
53a- 58 - Criminally negligent homicide
53a-61 - Assault in the third degree
53a-61a - Assault of a victim 60 or older in the 3rd degree
53a-62 - Threatening
53a-63 - Reckless endangerment in the first degree
53a-96 - Unlawful restraint in the second degree
53a-175 - Riot in the first degree
53a-176 - Riot in the second degree
53a-178 - Inciting to riot
53a-181d - Stalking in the second degree
Conviction as a delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense
Any conviction for a felony or a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence involving the use or threatened use of physical force or a deadly weapon may not possess any firearms in Connecticut.
Certain acts recognized by the State of Connecticut ban the shipment, transportation, ownership, and use of guns or ammunition by individuals convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence, or who are under a restraining (protection) order for domestic abuse in all 50 states. Certain acts also make it unlawful to knowingly sell or give a firearm or ammunition to such persons.
A person shall not be considered “convicted” if the conviction has been expunged or set aside, or if the convicted person has received a pardon.
No person may obtain a Pistol Permit, Eligibility Certificate, or possess any handguns if they are less than 21 years of age, subject to a Protective or Restraining Order, or if they have been convicted of a felony.
An applicant’s mental health and substance abuse record, among other liabilities, are also taken into consideration during the application process. Applicants face additional disqualification if the following scenarios apply to them:
They have been discharged from custody within the last 20 years after having been found not guilty of a crime by reason of mental disease or defect
They have been confined in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities within the last 60 months by order of a probate court
They have been voluntarily admitted to a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities within the last six months for care and treatment of a psychiatric disability, and not solely for alcohol or drug dependency
They are subject to a firearms seizure order issued pursuant to Connecticut General Statute Section 29-38c after receiving notice
They are illegally or unlawfully in the United States
What are the Application Requirements for Obtaining a Connecticut Pistol Permit?
Have patience! Receiving your pistol permit could take several months from the time you submit your application. The following stipulations must be met for an applicant to obtain their Connecticut pistol permit:
Be at 21 years of age or older
Have a clean criminal record
Complete a Connecticut-recognized pistol permit course
Complete a local and state application form and have it notarized
Submit a new set of fingerprints
Provide proof of legal United States residency
Provide proof of residency in the State of Connecticut
Pay the application fee and required fees by their local police department, the State of Connecticut, and the federal government.
How Do You Apply for Your Connecticut Pistol Permit?
Connecticut General Statutes require all Permit to Carry applications to be submitted in locations where the applicant maintains a bona fide residence. If you happen to have more than one residence, that can be considered an actual “domicile,” you can apply in either jurisdiction in which your residences are set.
You will need to submit to your local authority (police department) a completed and notarized application obtained from your local Police Department or downloaded here. This form is the State Of Connecticut Form DPS-799-C. Make sure you fill this out completely and thoroughly, with no omissions and with all mandated and/or required information or facts. The State of Connecticut no longer requires letters of reference on your behalf; however, local authority/police departments can still ask for these to be submitted in order to complete your application.
If the Town or location area of your residence does not have an organized police department or resident state trooper, the warden of the borough, or the first selectman of the town, as stated in Connecticut General Statutes, will be the place to go.
Out-of-state residents are allowed to apply for a non-resident pistol permit. All out-of-state residents must apply directly to the Connecticut State Police, Special Licensing and Firearms Unit. Call 860-685-8494 to have an application mailed out to you.
Prepare To Act practices and believes in what we call active self-protection: a combination of building self-confidence, self-awareness, and the belief that you can accomplish anything.
If you found this page, you’re interested in your concealed carry permit — take the action to apply.
The worst result is that they deny you. If you found a section within this blog that you feel will work against you, contact the court, and see what can be done about it. If it’s a serious offense, give it some time and stay clean and true to yourself. We all make mistakes and exercise bad judgment from time to time. Life is about redemption, purpose, and meaning. Find yours then find the path to get what you want.
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