What can't be had in CT?

[Quadkid]

Hi all, I am looking to buy my first rifle in the near future and I am kind of confused about the legislature. I am leaning towards an AR or some sort, but after reading Sec. 53-202a it looks like theyre illegal, yet they sell them and I know plenty of people who own them.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/pub/Chap943.htm#Sec53-202a.htm

My question is, what can a rifle have and what can it not have?



Ideally i would like a AR with a collapsible stock, fore-grip maybe, and a quad rail, so would this be legal or illegal in CT?

 

[scotthsi]

Hello, I'm in CT and have EXTENSIVELY researched this. And, it's not that hard if you read the danged stuff. If it is a PRE-ban rifle, you can have any accessory/attachment you want. If it is a POST-ban, then you can only have ONE "evil feature", such as a pistol grip, collapsible stock, flash hider, etc. Pre/post ban refers to the manufacture date of the lower only. LOOK at the rifles banned by name, such as the Colt AR-15 or Sporter. You can't have those at ALL despite the fact that Colt is in friggin' HARTFORD, CT!

The CT AWB defines an assault rifle as any semi-automatic rifle capable of accepting a detachable magazine and having any TWO or more of the following features...from the "evil feature" list. The pistol grip on the AR is your ONE allowed "evil feature" since it's semi-auto and takes detachable magazines. Now, my SKS? I can have anything on it I want since, even though it's semi-auto, it does NOT use detachable magazines.

 

[N003k]

Heres a link to the exact text, it's really pretty straight forward. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2005/pub/Chap943.htm#Sec53-202a.htm

First, make sure it's not banned by name in part 1. If it doesn't have the EXACT name listed, then it's not banned there, exception being AK-47's...which says 'Type' so...anything that is 7.62x39, functions like an AK, and has part interchangability with an AK....

If it passes that, the next question is, is it a pistol, shotgun, or rifle? Check part 3 and the applicable section of it (A for Rifles, B for pistols, C for shotguns) and see if it would qualify under THAT. If it doesn't have 2 or more features listed for the weapon type, then it's good in CT.

 

[Quadkid]

ok, i was looking at the rules book and was thinking to myself this cant be right, they take all the fun things out of modifying a nice rifle, but it was true. I had this gnawing feeling i couldnt get what i wanted.

So we can't have 2 evil features, so does a fore-grip classify as a pistol grip? and a rail system isnt on the evil list, right?

then again, i was also considering an SKS at one point, this might just make me swing over to that side. Cheaper too.

 

[DammitBoy]

I'd move to a state nearby without those kind of silly laws.

 

[N003k]

The only 5 evil features are Pistol Grip, Flash Suppressor or threaded barrel capable of accepting one (Not muzzle breaks/comps that are pinned on), Folding/Collapsing Stocks (Ones pinned in position don't count), Bayonet Mounting Devices, and Grenade Launchers, at least as far as rifles go.

Rails are fine, I'm fairly sure multiples of one thing don't count against it...so even if they consider a vert foregrip a 'pistol grip' I'm fairly sure it'd still be fine.

Thing I've been curious about is the grenade launcher...does it still count if it's classed under the NFA as its own gun (M203?) or does it have to by an adapter like the SKS has? Never been sure on that one part personally...

 

[Quadkid]

Heres a link to the exact text, it's really pretty straight forward. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2005/pub/Chap9...Sec53-202a.htm

i had looked at that already, but thank you for breaking it down.

The only 5 evil features are Pistol Grip, Flash Suppressor or threaded barrel capable of accepting one (Not muzzle breaks/comps that are pinned on), Folding/Collapsing Stocks (Ones pinned in position don't count), Bayonet Mounting Devices, and Grenade Launchers, at least as far as rifles go.

Rails are fine, I'm fairly sure multiples of one thing don't count against it...so even if they consider a vert foregrip a 'pistol grip' I'm fairly sure it'd still be fine.

Thing I've been curious about is the grenade launcher...does it still count if it's classed under the NFA as its own gun (M203?) or does it have to by an adapter like the SKS has? Never been sure on that one part personally...

hah, good point.

again, thanks for further clearing it up for me. Just never looked too far under the assault rifle BS. Up till now Ive just stuck to plinking with handguns.

I'd move to a state nearby without those kind of silly laws.

I cant think of any states close by that I would like better than CT. DEFINITELY not MA, UMass was enough for me, haha. RI, the state is a jail. haha.

 

[N003k]

Not a problem, I've read through it a TON of times, that its gotten somewhat easy to remember the general ideas, and a quick glance brings the rest back.

Really though, your BEST bet probably would be just go to a gun shop locally to pick one out, unless you find a REALLY good deal.

 

[Hesenwine]

Let's see now, moving to a nearby state to avoid gun law restrictions leaves out NY & MA. VT would be o.k. but the winters are brutal. NH is o.k. too (Live Free Or Die) but again, winters suck.

Me, I moved to TN. We can buy pretty much anything we want and as many as we want. :>)

 

[Quadkid]

yeah, well i would more than likely buy from a local guy. Especially with guns, i like to see what im buying first hand.

Let's see now, moving to a nearby state to avoid gun law restrictions leaves out NY & MA. VT would be o.k. but the winters are brutal. NH is o.k. too (Live Free Or Die) but again, winters suck.

as pretty as those states are to visit, i could never live up there for those reasons. I dont know how my sister survives in NH. hah.

 

[scotthsi]

So we can't have 2 evil features, so does a fore-grip classify as a pistol grip? and a rail system isnt on the evil list, right?

Nope, a fore grip and rail system are fine. They are not listed in the "evil features" that define an assault rifle. Beware of a fore grip on a pistol, though.

then again, i was also considering an SKS at one point, this might just make me swing over to that side. Cheaper too.

Yup, CT made me love my old trusty, dusty SKS even more. So much so that I brought it back last Christmas from home in Arizona.

 

[eye5600]

Foregrips are an issue on (semi-auto) pistols.

I'm not sure all the rules you need to know are in the AWB.

One of the intents of the CT law is to disallow any handgun feature that facilitates shooting from the hip, e.g. Ruger Charger. It also tries to disallow a firearm that is legally a pistol but which can be fired from the shoulder like a rifle, e.g. the Bounty Hunter. This is in keeping with law enforcement's traditional opposition to concealable weapons.

 

[N003k]

Er, Eye....the CT Law doesn't so much disallow that as Federal does lol. At least not unless it's registered under the NFA...

 

[kimbershot]

ct guns

hey,
i live in ct and have had pre and post ban ar style rifles. i sold my preban for gobs of cash to guy who just needed to have it. i have built several rifles from scratch for 650-750. all with quality parts. want to spend 1000 for a suppressor????? you gotta be kidding. so you can't have a threaded barrel-so what! so you can't have a collapsible stock-big deal. you can buy all the post ban bushy's, colts, stags or whatever that you want. they all do the same thing.

get a spikes conversion kit for 200. or a dedicated 22 upper for 600 and you will still have a platform for all your shooting needs and have $$ left over (from the price of a preban).

 

[N003k]

.....some of us would LIKE those features....

If you're content with not needing them...fine....some of us would rather be able to have them though.

 

[scotthsi]

+1 N003k

kimbershot is a HUGE problem as to why things are the way they are with firearms, especially in CT. They just roll over and LET things remain taken away from them because they FEEL those things aren't necessary so, therefore, YOU don't need them, either. I'll bet he doesn't have a problem with the statewide ban on AK-47 "types", too.

I think there's a term for that...oh yeah...FUDD.

 

[eye5600]

I'm not sure what you are referring to. But the Charger and Bounty Hunter are both illegal in CT, but legal elsewhere.