armaborealis
Regular Member
My family is looking at traveling to, among other places, CT over the holidays to visit friends and family. Obviously being armed on long road trips is a good thing. Regrettably, CT does not honor any other state's CWPs and we are non-residents. Doubly regrettably, CT's laws suck tremendously once I started digging, even transporting a sidearm (even cased, locked, and unloaded) is pretty much illegal except under specific circumstances. It is too late to get the ball rolling on non-resident permits.
I did notice that there are some specific provisions in CT law that allow a non-resident to bring a sidearm into the state.
1) Official training event. My wife is an NRA certified handgun and home firearms safety instructor. If, over the course of the time she is in CT, she teaches an NRA approved class would that qualify as a reason to transport a firearm in CT? Would it have to be a live-fire class at a range, or would the home firearms safety course (non-firing / not at range) qualify?
2) We have participated in formal pistol competition. Would personal practice at a local range qualify for the "format pistol or revolver training" requirement?
3) The law allows you to transport a firearm to be "repaired." Would a $35 cleaning and safety inspection at a gunsmith count?
Would one class, practice session, or repair over the course of a multi-day visit allow the firearm to be transported into the state and stored (unloaded/cased/locked) in a hotel safe or vehicle trunk for the remainder of the time? Obviously a non-firing home firearms safety class (in a private residence) would be best as that is lowest profile/most private.
I figured someone here would have an idea of how "formal pistol or revolver training" is interpreted. I am guessing that the local authorities seize any opportunity to arrest peaceable citizens who dare to exercise their RKBA, but figured it couldn't hurt to ask. Right now I think we are looking at just carrying pepper spray instead of a firearm and keeping the windows rolled up when transiting the lovely state of CT but wanted to explore the options.
Do I need to contact the CT state troopers or permitting agency or some other CT state agency and ask these questions to get an answer in writing?
Regardless I've already written my senators and representative to urge them to bring nationwide reciprocity back up. It is sorely needed...
Thanks!
I did notice that there are some specific provisions in CT law that allow a non-resident to bring a sidearm into the state.
Sec. 29-35. Carrying of pistol or revolver without permit prohibited. Exceptions. (a) No person shall carry any pistol or revolver upon his or her person, except when such person is within the dwelling house or place of business of such person, without a permit to carry the same issued as provided in section 29-28. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the carrying of any pistol or revolver by any parole officer or peace officer of this state, or parole officer or peace officer of any other state while engaged in the pursuit of official duties, or federal marshal or federal law enforcement agent, or to any member of the armed forces of the United States, as defined in section 27-103, or of this state, as defined in section 27-2, when on duty or going to or from duty, or to any member of any military organization when on parade or when going to or from any place of assembly, or to the transportation of pistols or revolvers as merchandise, or to any person transporting any pistol or revolver while contained in the package in which it was originally wrapped at the time of sale and while transporting the same from the place of sale to the purchaser's residence or place of business, or to any person removing such person's household goods or effects from one place to another, or to any person while transporting any such pistol or revolver from such person's place of residence or business to a place or individual where or by whom such pistol or revolver is to be repaired or while returning to such person's place of residence or business after the same has been repaired, or to any person transporting a pistol or revolver in or through the state for the purpose of taking part in competitions, taking part in formal pistol or revolver training, repairing such pistol or revolver or attending any meeting or exhibition of an organized collectors' group if such person is a bona fide resident of the United States and is permitted to possess and carry a pistol or revolver in the state or subdivision of the United States in which such person resides, or to any person transporting a pistol or revolver to and from a testing range at the request of the issuing authority, or to any person transporting an antique pistol or revolver, as defined in section 29-33. For the purposes of this subsection, "formal pistol or revolver training" means pistol or revolver training at a locally approved or permitted firing range or training facility, and "transporting a pistol or revolver" means transporting a pistol or revolver that is unloaded and, if such pistol or revolver is being transported in a motor vehicle, is not readily accessible or directly accessible from the passenger compartment of the vehicle or, if such pistol or revolver is being transported in a motor vehicle that does not have a compartment separate from the passenger compartment, such pistol or revolver shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the carrying of a pistol or revolver during formal pistol or revolver training or repair.
1) Official training event. My wife is an NRA certified handgun and home firearms safety instructor. If, over the course of the time she is in CT, she teaches an NRA approved class would that qualify as a reason to transport a firearm in CT? Would it have to be a live-fire class at a range, or would the home firearms safety course (non-firing / not at range) qualify?
2) We have participated in formal pistol competition. Would personal practice at a local range qualify for the "format pistol or revolver training" requirement?
3) The law allows you to transport a firearm to be "repaired." Would a $35 cleaning and safety inspection at a gunsmith count?
Would one class, practice session, or repair over the course of a multi-day visit allow the firearm to be transported into the state and stored (unloaded/cased/locked) in a hotel safe or vehicle trunk for the remainder of the time? Obviously a non-firing home firearms safety class (in a private residence) would be best as that is lowest profile/most private.
I figured someone here would have an idea of how "formal pistol or revolver training" is interpreted. I am guessing that the local authorities seize any opportunity to arrest peaceable citizens who dare to exercise their RKBA, but figured it couldn't hurt to ask. Right now I think we are looking at just carrying pepper spray instead of a firearm and keeping the windows rolled up when transiting the lovely state of CT but wanted to explore the options.
Do I need to contact the CT state troopers or permitting agency or some other CT state agency and ask these questions to get an answer in writing?
Regardless I've already written my senators and representative to urge them to bring nationwide reciprocity back up. It is sorely needed...
Thanks!