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For legal possession, anyone who legally possessed one of the newly banned weapons on the day before the bill's effective date and who is eligible for a certificate of possession may continue to do so by applying to DESPP for this certificate by January 1, 2014
Prohibitions and Exemptions from Ban
The bill generally bans the sale, acquisition, or possession of the newly added weapons under similar conditions to the ban on assault weapons under existing law. By law, illegal possession of an assault weapon is a class D felony, with a mandatory minimum one-year prison term. Illegally transferring or carrying an assault weapon is a class C felony, with a two-year mandatory minimum prison term or, in the case of transfers to people under age 18, an additional six-year mandatory minimum. The ban on sales and transfers is effective upon passage.
Legal Possession. Under the bill, anyone who legally possessed one of the newly banned weapons on the day before the bill's effective date and who is eligible for a certificate of possession may continue to do so by applying to DESPP for this certificate by January 1, 2014 and otherwise complying with the bill. A member of the U. S. Military or Navy who is unable to apply by January 1, 2014 because he or she is out of state on official duty has 90 days after returning to Connecticut to apply for a certificate. The certificate must contain a description of the firearm that identifies it uniquely, including all identification marks; the owner's full name, address, date of birth and thumbprint; and any other information DESPP deems appropriate.
Beginning on its effective date, the bill prohibits anyone with a certificate of possession for any of the newly added assault weapons from (1) selling or transferring the weapon in Connecticut to anyone except a licensed gun dealer or (2) otherwise transferring the weapon except by (a) bequest or intestate succession or (b) prior arrangement to DESPP or a local police department. Anyone who inherits an assault weapon for which a certificate was issued has 90 days to apply for a certificate or sell the weapon to a gun dealer, permanently disable it, or take it out of state.
Anyone who moves into Connecticut in lawful possession of an assault weapon has 90 days to make it permanently inoperable, sell it to a licensed gun dealer, or take it out of state. But service members transferred to Connecticut in lawful possession of an assault weapon may apply to DESPP for a certificate within 90 days of arriving here.
Under the law and bill, anyone who possesses an assault weapon for which a certificate has been issued may possess it only at specified locations, such as his or her home or business place, at a licensed shooting club, or at a target range that holds a license for practicing target shooting.
Anyone who obtained a certificate of possession for an existing assault weapon before the bill's effective date for a weapon defined as an assault weapon by the bill is deemed to have obtained a certificate of possession for such assault weapon and must not be required to obtain a separate certificate of possession. |
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