On April 1 , 2013 , Connecticut lawmakers announced a deal on what they called some of the " toughest gun laws in the country . " In retrospect however , Connecticut 's gun laws still remain more permissive than in California , Hawaii , Maryland , Massachusetts , New York , and New Jersey ( especially with respect to open and concealed carry ) , even after new gun control legislation following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting went into effect . This new legislation included a ban on new high-capacity ammunition magazines , although magazines lawfully owned prior to the ban may be kept . The proposal also called for background checks for private gun sales and a new registry for existing magazines that carry more than 10 bullets . The package also creates what state lawmakers said is the nation 's first statewide dangerous weapon offender registry , immediate universal background checks for all firearms sales and expansion of Connecticut 's assault weapons ban . On April 3 the State Senate , followed shortly thereafter at midnight , April 4 , the State House approved a bipartisan gun control legislation that would be " the toughest in the United States " . It was signed into law by Governor Dannel Malloy on April 4 . The law makes Connecticut the first state to establish a registry for people convicted of crimes involving dangerous weapons . It also requires background checks for all gun sales , restricts semiautomatic rifles , and limits the capacity of ammunition magazines
Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting
Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting
Gun laws in Connecticut