Conn. Gen. Stat. » Title 53 — CRIMES · Chapter 943 — Offenses Against Public Peace and Safety
Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202c (2026)

Possession of assault weapon prohibited. Exemptions. Class D felony

✓ current as of May 2026
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(a) Except as provided in section 53-202e, any person who, within this state, possesses an assault weapon, except as provided in sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, and 53-202o, shall be guilty of a class D felony and shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of which one year may not be suspended or reduced by the court, except that a first-time violation of this subsection shall be a class A misdemeanor if (1) the person presents proof that such person lawfully possessed the assault weapon (A) prior to October 1, 1993, with respect to an assault weapon described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, (B) on April 4, 2013, under the provisions of sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, in effect on January 1, 2013, with respect to an assault weapon described in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, or (C) on June 5, 2023, under the provisions of sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2023, with respect to an assault weapon defined as a 2023 assault weapon in section 53-202a, and (2) the person has otherwise possessed the assault weapon in compliance with subsection (f) of section 53-202d.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the possession of assault weapons by: (1) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, police departments, the Department of Correction, the Division of Criminal Justice, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection or the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States, (2) a sworn and duly certified member of an organized police department, the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or the Department of Correction, a chief inspector or inspector in the Division of Criminal Justice, a salaried inspector of motor vehicles designated by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, a conservation officer or special conservation officer appointed by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to section 26-5, or a constable who is certified by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council and appointed by the chief executive authority of a town, city or borough to perform criminal law enforcement duties, for use by such sworn member, inspector, officer or constable in the discharge of such sworn member's, inspector's, officer's or constable's official duties or when off duty, (3) a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States, or (4) a nuclear facility licensed by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the purpose of providing security services at such facility, or any contractor or subcontractor of such facility for the purpose of providing security services at such facility.

(c) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the possession of an assault weapon described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a by any person prior to July 1, 1994, if all of the following are applicable:

(1) The person is eligible under sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, to apply for a certificate of possession for the assault weapon by July 1, 1994;

(2) The person lawfully possessed the assault weapon prior to October 1, 1993; and

(3) The person is otherwise in compliance with sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive.

(d) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the possession of an assault weapon described in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a by any person prior to April 5, 2013, if all of the following are applicable:

(1) The person is eligible under sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, to apply for a certificate of possession for the assault weapon by January 1, 2014;

(2) The person lawfully possessed the assault weapon on April 4, 2013, under the provisions of sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, in effect on January 1, 2013; and

(3) The person is otherwise in compliance with sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive.

(e) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the possession of a 2023 assault weapon by any person prior to May 1, 2024, if all of the following are applicable:

(1) The person is eligible under sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, to apply for a certificate of possession for such assault weapon by May 1, 2024;

(2) The person lawfully possessed such assault weapon on June 5, 2023, under the provisions of sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, and section 53-202m of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2023; and

(3) The person is otherwise in compliance with sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive.

(f) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the possession of a 2023 assault weapon by any person if all of the following are applicable:

(1) Such assault weapon was reclassified for federal purposes as a rifle pursuant to the amendments to 27 CFR Parts 478 and 479 published at 88 Federal Register 6478 (January 31, 2023).

(2) The person applied to register such assault weapon under the National Firearms Act, P.L. 73-474, as amended from time to time, using the form known as Form 1 published by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and submitted a copy of such form to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection not later than August 1, 2023, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has approved such application, has denied such application within the past thirty days, or has not yet processed such application.

(3) The person lawfully possessed such assault weapon on June 5, 2023, under the provisions of sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, and section 53-202m of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2023; and

(4) The person is otherwise in compliance with sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive.

(g) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to a person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that includes an assault weapon, or the trustee of a trust that includes an assault weapon, for which a certificate of possession has been issued under section 53-202d if the assault weapon is possessed at a place set forth in subdivision (1) of subsection (f) of section 53-202d or as authorized by the Probate Court.

(h) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the possession of a semiautomatic pistol that is defined as an assault weapon in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a that the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection designates as being designed expressly for use in target shooting events at the Olympic games sponsored by the International Olympic Committee pursuant to regulations adopted under subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 53-202b that is (1) possessed and transported in accordance with subsection (f) of section 53-202d, or (2) possessed at or transported to or from a collegiate, Olympic or target pistol shooting competition in this state which is sponsored by, conducted under the auspices of, or approved by a law enforcement agency or a nationally or state recognized entity that fosters proficiency in, or promotes education about, firearms, provided such pistol is transported in the manner prescribed in subsection (a) of section 53-202f.

(P.A. 93-306, S. 3; P.A. 02-120, S. 5; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; P.A. 13-3, S. 27; 13-220, S. 6; P.A. 23-53, S. 24.)

History: P.A. 02-120 amended Subsec. (a) to add reference to Sec. 53-202o, effective June 7, 2002; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Department of Public Safety” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection” in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-3 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to designate existing provision re assault weapon lawfully possessed prior to October 1, 1993, as Subpara. (A) and amend same to add reference to description in Sec. 53-202a(1)(A) and add Subpara. (B) re assault weapon described in Sec. 53-202a(1)(B) to (F) and lawfully possessed on April 3, 2013, under Secs. 53-202a to 53-202k in effect on January 1, 2013, amended Subsec. (b) to add exemption for Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensee and subcontractor providing security services, amended Subsec. (c) to add reference to assault weapon described in Sec. 53-202a(1)(A), added Subsec. (d) re assault weapon described in Sec. 53a-202a(1)(B) to (F) and lawfully possessed on April 3, 2013, under Secs. 53-202a to 53-202k in effect on January 1, 2013, redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (e), and deleted references to Secs. 29-37j and 53a-46a(h) and made technical and conforming changes, effective April 4, 2013; P.A. 13-220 substantially revised Subsec. (b) re persons permitted to possess assault weapons, amended Subsec. (e) re trust that includes an assault weapon, and added Subsec. (f) re possession of semiautomatic pistol designated in regulations adopted under Sec. 53-202b(b)(4) as Olympic pistols, effective June 18, 2013; P.A. 23-53 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by adding Subpara. (C) re assault weapon described as a 2023 assault weapon in Sec. 53-202a and lawfully possessed on June 5, 2023, under Secs. 53-202a to 53-202k, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2023, added new Subsecs. (e) and (f) re applicability of Subsec. (a) to possession of a 2023 assault weapon and redesignated existing Subsecs. (e) to (h) as Subsecs. (g) to (f), effective June 6, 2023.

Cited. 234 C. 455; 242 C. 143.

Defendant's conviction did not violate his due process rights because, as a matter of law, a Maadi MISR is an “assault weapon” as defined in Sec. 53-202a. 93 CA 129.

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases, 1995–2019 · leading case: State v. Kalman, 887 A.2d 950 (Conn. App. Ct. 2006).
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State v. Kalman, 887 A.2d 950 (Conn. App. Ct. 2006). · cites it 10× “The court found the defendant not guilty of the charge of reckless endangerment in the first degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-63.”
State v. Greene, 874 A.2d 750 (Conn. 2005). · cites it 4× “slaughter in the first degree with a firearm in violation of General Statutes §§ 53a-48 3 and 53a-55a, five counts of assault in the first degree as an accessory in violation of General Statutes §§ 53a-8 (a) and 53a-59 (a) (5), 4 conspiracy to commit assault in the first degree…”
Dist. of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008). “2008); Conn. Gen.Stat. §§ 53-202c (2007); Haw.Rev.”
Shew v. Malloy, 994 F. Supp. 2d 234 (D. Conn. 2014). · cites it 4× “See Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53-202c(a). The legislation also provides that "[a]ny person who, within [Connecticut], distributes, transports or imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives any assault weapon, except as provided by sections 52-202a…”
Greene v. Comm'r of Corr., 190 A.3d 851 (Conn. 2018). · cites it 2× “" The jury ultimately returned a verdict finding the petitioner guilty of manslaughter in the first degree with a firearm as an accessory in violation of General Statutes §§ 53a-8 (a) and 53a-55a, conspiracy to commit manslaughter in the first degree with a firearm in violation…”
Greene v. Comm'r of Corr., 2 A.3d 29 (Conn. App. Ct. 2010). · cites it 3× “The petitioner subsequently was charged with murder as an accessory in violation of General Statutes §§ 53a-54a and 53a-8; conspiracy to commit murder in violation of General Statutes §§ 53a-54a and 53a-48; five counts of assault in the first degree as an accessory in violation…”
State v. Gamble, 987 A.2d 1049 (Conn. App. Ct. 2010). · cites it 3× “…murder in violation of General Statutes §§ 53a-54a and 53a-48 (a), possession of an assault weapon in violation of General Statutes §§ 53-202c and 53a-8, and conspiracy to possess an assault weapon in violation of §§ 53-202c and 53a-48 (e). 2 State v. Golding, supra, 213…”
State v. Crespo, 76 A.3d 664 (Conn. App. Ct. 2013). · cites it 3× “The defendant, Victor Crespo, appeals from the judgment of conviction, rendered after a jury trial, of carrying a pistol or revolver without a permit in violation of General Statutes § 29-35, unlawful possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle in violation of General Statutes §…”
Benjamin v. Bailey, 662 A.2d 1226 (Conn. 1995). · cites it 2× “” General Statutes § 53-202c provides: “possession of assault weapon prohibited, class D felony, (a) Except as provided in section 53-202e, any person who, within this state, possesses any assault weapon, except as provided in sections 29-37j and 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive,…”
Gamble v. Comm'r of Corr., 179 A.3d 227 (Conn. App. Ct. 2018). · cites it 3× “The petitioner was also charged with, and found not guilty of, manslaughter in the first degree with a firearm in violation of § 53a-55 (a) (3), murder and murder as an accessory in violation of General Statutes §§ 53a-54a and 53a-8, conspiracy to commit murder in violation of…”
Kaminsky v. Comm'r of Emergency Servs. & Pub. Prot., 203 A.3d 1252 (Conn. App. Ct. 2019). · cites it 3× “Section 53-202c (c) exempts those individuals who, prior to July 1, 1994, lawfully possessed an assault weapon prior to October 1, 1993, from its prohibition against the possession of such weapons if the person otherwise complies with §§ 53-202a through 53-202k.”
Cornelius v. Comm'r of Corr., 143 A.3d 1179 (Conn. App. Ct. 2016). · cites it 2× “On August 10, 2004, the petitioner entered guilty pleas to three charges: one count of attempted manufacture of a bomb in violation of General Statutes §§ 53a-49 and 53-80a ; and two counts of possession of an assault weapon in violation of General Statutes § 53-202c. On…”
Show all 14 citing cases →
— Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202c(a) — 1 case
Shew v. Malloy, 994 F. Supp. 2d 234 (D. Conn. 2014). “See Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53-202c(a). The legislation also provides that "[a]ny person who, within [Connecticut], distributes, transports or imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives any assault weapon, except as provided by sections 52-202a…”
— Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202c(b)(2) — 1 case
Shew v. Malloy, 994 F. Supp. 2d 234 (D. Conn. 2014). “See Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53-202c(a). The legislation also provides that "[a]ny person who, within [Connecticut], distributes, transports or imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives any assault weapon, except as provided by sections 52-202a…”
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