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Non-resident coming to CT for a class

kalash

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CT laws are even more confusing than MA laws, it seems.

  • Can I, as an MA resident without a CT license, possess (not carry) a handgun in CT if attending a training class?
  • If it's a multi-day class, can I stay at a nearby hotel with my pistol?
  • Can I bring magazines >10 rounds if they're unloaded in my bag?

Thanks.
 
The answer to the first two came from a convo with the state police, I was going to a training class as well.

1) yes
2) yes
3) don’t know, didn’t ask
4) Bring extra ammo, you can not buy ammo in CT without a non-res permit.
 
Never had to think about this before. So I did some googling, take this for what it's worth, (BOLD added by me):


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 any Department of Motor Vehicles inspector appointed under section 14-8 and certified pursuant to section 7-294d, 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 the 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.
Source: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_529.htm#sec_29-28


Opinion:
  • Can I, as an MA resident without a CT license, possess (not carry) a handgun in CT if attending a training class?
    • Based on above, assuming you have a MA license - yes.
  • If it's a multi-day class, can I stay at a nearby hotel with my pistol?
    • I think so. I'd go with unloaded, locked up, and DISCREET.
  • Can I bring magazines >10 rounds if they're unloaded in my bag?
    • No. CT doesn't allow you to have > 10 round mags unless they were previously declared, or you're a member of a special class

@Len-2A Training
@dcmdon

Oh, and as @JRT says above, bring sufficient ammo, you need permit to purchase.

Edited to add - if you're a MA/NH/RI/VT resident, it's potentially worth looking into getting a CT non-resident permit. CT doesn't recognize anyone else's permit - BUT - they do issue non-resident permits unless they've got cause not to. By "cause", I don't mean that "suitability" crap - I mean federally prohibited person or similar.
 
It appears that it would be legal to possess (only) if attending a class in CT.

When I lived in MA, the only reason I ever went to CT was to attend a concert at Mohegan Sun and checking Indian Reservation laws, a CT license is useless there. Now as a NH resident I never anticipate going to CT for anything and if I do, LEOSA will cover me.
 
CT laws are even more confusing than MA laws, it seems.

  • Can I, as an MA resident without a CT license, possess (not carry) a handgun in CT if attending a training class?
  • If it's a multi-day class, can I stay at a nearby hotel with my pistol?
  • Can I bring magazines >10 rounds if they're unloaded in my bag?

Thanks.

CT laws are nowhere near as confusing as MA laws. You are just more familiar with them. CT laws actually tend to be pretty clear if you bother to read them. This compares pretty well with MA laws where the laws tend to reference other laws very often so unless you want to flip around reading multiple laws in order to understand one law, you really dont' have a good picture.
Take it from someone who has lived in both states. CT laws are much easier to read and are better written.
  • Yes - CT has a specific training exclusion in their laws. This applies like you said to possession and transport, not carrying. The relevant statute is:


    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 . . . . . . . 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,
  • Sec. 29-35 would seem to protect you here. Though if you wanted to be extra careful I'd secure it with the instructor or at the range.
  • No - there are no exemptions for standard capacity mags. Most out of staters participating in classes follow the don't ask, don't tell protocol. Again for reduced risk you may want to ask the instructor to lock them up at the range. If you really want to be crazy about it, you could disassemble the mags and stash them in different places around the car.
 
The answer to the first two came from a convo with the state police, I was going to a training class as well.

1) yes
2) yes
3) don’t know, didn’t ask
4) Bring extra ammo, you can not buy ammo in CT without a non-res permit.
Never believe what the cops tell you. They typically know less about CT firearms laws than most of us.

I am friends with a couple of CT cops and they will sometimes call me for a citation.

With that said, speaking to a cop can sometimes be useful if only because it gives you the ability to claim that you were the victim of entrapment by estoppel.

Entrapment by estoppel: In American criminal law is a principle which holds that, when defendant can show they reasonably relied on an interpretation of the law by the public official(s) charged with enforcement or interpretation of that law, such as a regulatory official (even if that official's interpretation is later determined to be wrong).

In other words, you asked the cop, he said it was legal. You had a problem and now you can use the fact that you asked and were incorrectly told something was legal by a cop, to get out of the crime.

Of course if it's a conversation and not an email, there is nothing preventing the cop from saying he didn't remember the conversation.
 
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short answer: yes, you can go into CT with the intentions of training. be prepared to proove it. you may enter, attend and leave for the duration of the event (or your stay at the venue) and the travel. staying overnight is gonna be a problem for you, if you get caught. As far as the mags go ... no don't bring them, maybe. depends on if you registered them with the CT state police back in '13. if not, just bring in 10rnd mags. if you did register (not likely as you're a non resident), don't put more than 10 rnds in 'em.

I know this as I went through a long winded conversation with some random state officer about MA residents that are members to a CT gun club. I still question the position he took that even going to use the club, as a member just practicing shooting, was legitimately considered training. But I have used his response to reasure MA members can go to their CT club to train/practice/learn (i.e. shoot holes in paper, maybe even casually) not directly tied to a published event.

so, I say go, but don't stay and leave the +10 cap mags at home.
 
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