The Substitute House Bill No. 7056, titled "An Act Concerning Firearm Permits and Transfers," proposes comprehensive amendments to Connecticut's firearm regulations, particularly focusing on the issuance and management of permits for carrying pistols and revolvers. Key provisions include the establishment of a "local permitting authority," defined as the chief of police or chief executive officer of a municipality, responsible for issuing permits for retail firearm sales. The bill mandates that individuals selling ten or more firearms in a calendar year must obtain a permit, and it outlines the criteria for temporary state permits, which require criminal history checks and completion of an approved safety course. Additionally, the bill introduces new confidentiality measures to protect the identities of permit holders and streamlines the application process by requiring local authorities to act on applications within specified timeframes.

The bill also includes significant changes to the sale and transfer of firearms, such as the requirement for all pistols and revolvers sold at retail to be equipped with a reusable trigger lock and the prohibition of selling loaded firearms. It establishes a state database for verifying the validity of firearm permits and modifies the purchasing requirements for long guns, necessitating valid eligibility certificates. Furthermore, the bill expands exemptions for the number of handguns an individual can purchase within a 30-day period and consolidates the terminology used in the statutes to refer to local officials. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2025, and the bill aims to enhance public safety through stricter regulations and improved compliance measures.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 29-28, 29-28a, 29-33
PS Joint Favorable Substitute: 29-28, 29-28a, 29-28b, 29-29, 29-30, 29-32
File No. 464: 29-28, 29-28a, 29-28b, 29-29, 29-30, 29-32