An Act Concerning Transfer Of Assault Weapons And Large Capacity Magazines.
Summary
HB 6620 would amend Title 53 of the Connecticut General Statutes to permit certain lawful transfers of regulated firearms and magazines. Specifically, it would allow a person who already lawfully possesses an assault weapon under a certificate of possession to transfer that weapon, through a federal firearms licensed dealer, to another person who also holds a certificate of possession. It would also allow a person who has declared possession of a large capacity magazine to transfer that magazine, through a federal firearms licensed dealer, to another person who has likewise declared possession of a large capacity magazine.
The bill does not create a new category of lawful possession; rather, it creates a transfer mechanism for people who already meet existing legal requirements. The stated purpose is to make it possible for these items to be legally transferred between qualified owners while still using an FFL as the intermediary, which preserves dealer oversight and the existing regulatory framework.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would modify Connecticut firearms law in Title 53 by adding an explicit exception or authorization for transfers of assault weapons and large capacity magazines between already-qualified owners. It would affect current certificate holders and declarants, as well as federal firearms licensed dealers who would be used to process the transfers. The practical effect would be to ease the transfer or sale of these regulated items among lawful owners without changing the underlying possession restrictions.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes, the available record suggests a straightforward, technical proposal rather than a highly developed public debate. The bill’s framing is narrow and administrative, emphasizing legal transferability for existing lawful possessors. No formal vote history or transcript is available here to indicate broader support or opposition.
Contention
The likely point of contention is whether Connecticut should permit transfers of assault weapons and large capacity magazines at all, even when both parties are already lawful possessors. Supporters would likely view the bill as a practical fix that allows lawful owners to dispose of or transfer regulated property through licensed dealers. Opponents would likely argue that any expansion of transferability could weaken the state’s assault weapon and large-capacity magazine restrictions, even if the transfers remain limited to certified or declared owners and are routed through an FFL.