Source: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/rpt/2013-R-0174.htm
Timestamp: 2017-01-16 10:52:08
Document Index: 798526422

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 54', '§ 29', '§ 29', '§ 29', '§ 29', 'in fine', '§ 29', '§ 29', '§ 29', '§ 29', '§ 29', '§ 29', '§ 29', '§ 53', '§ 53', '§ 53', '§ 53', '§ 53', '§ 53', 'in fine', '§ 53', '§ 53', '§ 53', '§ 53', '§ 53', '§ 53', '§ 53', '§ 53', '§ 53', '§ 53', '§ 53', '§ 53', '§ 29', '§ 53', '§ 53']

CASE STATISTICS FOR FIREARMS-RELATED OFFENSES
Location:WEAPONS - FIREARMS; Scope:Connecticut laws/regulations; March 5, 2013
2013-R-0174
You asked for case statistics for firearms-related offenses. This report updates OLR Report 2007-R-0442.
Using information provided by the Judicial Branch to the Office of Fiscal Analysis, we (1) identified 50 firearms-related offenses and (2) compiled statistics on these offenses for the last five fiscal years (2008 to 2012). With one exception, we did not include hunting offenses. These 50 offenses range from permitting violations to committing manslaughter with a firearm. The total number of charges for these offenses ranges from a low of 4,326 in fiscal year (FY) 2012 to a high of 5,119 in FY 08. For individual offenses, the number of charges varies greatly over this five year period. There are very few charges for some offenses, such as failing to surrender a revoked pistol permit (two charges in FY 08 and one charge each in FY 09 and FY 10). For some offenses, such as carrying a pistol without a permit, there are a large number of charges in each year. This offense saw a high of 681 charges in FY 08.
BACKGROUND-UNDERSTANDING THE STATISTICS
The data used in this report is based on individual charges disposed by the courts, not individual cases. An individual may (1) be charged with multiple offenses in the same case and (2) have multiple charges and cases during a year. The data shows initial charges for crimes and does not include any substitute charges that prosecutors might add later in a case.
Offenses can be disposed of in a number of ways. In some cases, an initial charge may be dismissed when a substitute charge is added. In many cases, an individual is charged with multiple offenses in the same case and some charges will be dismissed or nolled (the prosecutor declines to prosecute the charge) as part of an agreement to plead guilty to other charges. We do not have data on individual cases and the impact plea bargaining has on charges. In addition, some charges may be dismissed when an offender satisfactorily completes a diversionary program. For example, an offender who is allowed to participate in accelerated rehabilitation and successfully completes the program can have his or her charges dismissed (CGS § 54-56e).
STATISTICS ON FIREARM-RELATED OFFENSES
Table 1 provides the number of charges and their disposition for firearm-related offenses in fiscal years 2008 to 2012, listed in order by statutory citation. For each statute, the table only includes those fiscal years in which a charge was reported.
Table 1: Firearms-Related Offenses, Case Information from FY 08 to FY 12
VIOLATING PISTOL PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS (CGS § 29-28)
FAILING TO SURRENDER REVOKED PERMIT TO CARRY A PISTOL OR REVOLVER (CGS § 29-32)
MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS RELATED TO A PISTOL OR REVOLVER TRANSFER (CGS § 29-34(a))
TRANSFERRING A PISTOL OR REVOLVER TO SOMEONE UNDER AGE 21 (CGS § 29-34(b))
*Violating this statute is an infraction. In addition to the convictions under this statute, one charge in 2008 and one in 2010 was disposed of by paying a mail-in fine for the infraction, like paying the fine for a motor vehicle moving violation.
FAILING TO SURRENDER A REVOKED GUN ELIGIBILITY CERTIFICATE (CGS § 29-36i)
FAILING TO TRANSFER OR SURRENDER A FIREARM—PERSON INELIGIBILE TO POSSESS FIREARMS (CGS § 29-36k)
RETAILERS—FAILING TO PROVIDE GUN LOCKING DEVICES (CGS § 29-37b)
VIOLATING LOADED FIREARM SAFE STORAGE REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO MINORS (CGS § 29-37i)
PURCHASING A FIREARM FOR TRANSFER TO A PROHIBITED PERSON (CGS § 29-37j(a))
SOLICITING PURCHASE OF A FIREARM TO TRANSFER TO A PROHIBITED PERSON (CGS § 29-37j(b))
PURCHASING OR SOLICITING PURCHASE OF A FIREARM TO TRANSFER TO A PROHIBITED PERSON WITHIN FIVE YEARS AFTER A PRIOR FELONY CONVICTION (CGS § 29-37j(c))
USING A MACHINE GUN IN A VIOLENT CRIME (CGS § 53-202(b))
USING A MACHINE GUN FOR AN AGGRESSIVE PURPOSE OR GIVING ONE TO SOMEONE UNDER AGE 16 (CGS § 53-202(c))
*Prior to October 1, 2009, this statute only punished using a machine gun for an offensive purpose. Since then, it covers both use for an offensive purpose and giving a machine gun to someone under age 16. MANUFACTURER-FAILING TO KEEP MACHINE GUN REGISTER (CGS § 53-202(f))
ILLEGALLY POSSESSING AN ASSAULT WEAPON—1ST TIME VIOLATOR WHOSE POSSESSION WAS PREVIOUSLY LEGAL (CGS § 53-202c)
ILLEGALLY TRANSPORTING AN ASSAULT WEAPON (CGS § 53-202f)
FAILING TO REPORT A LOST OR STOLEN ASSAULT WEAPON (CGS § 53-202g)
*In each year, one charge was disposed of through bond forfeiture.
**First unintentional violations of this statute are infractions. One charge in 2008, three in 2009, one in 2011, and two in 2012 were disposed of by paying a mail-in fine for the infraction, like paying the fine for a motor vehicle moving violation.
USING AN ASSAULT WEAPON TO COMMIT A CLASS A, B, OR C FELONY (CGS § 53-202j)
USING A FIREARM TO COMMIT A CLASS A, B, OR C FELONY
(CGS § 53-202k)
TRANSFERRING AMOR PIERCING OR INCENDIARY AMMUNITION (CGS § 53-202l)
(CGS § 53-202aa)
(CGS § 53-203)
HUNTING OR DISCHARGING A FIREARM FROM A PUBLIC HIGHWAY (CGS § 53-204)
*In 2008, one charge was disposed of through bond forfeiture.
CARRYING A LOADED SHOTGUN, RIFLE, OR MUZZLELOADER IN A VEHICLE OR SNOWMOBILE (CGS § 53-205)
TRANSFERRING A FACSIMILE FIREARM (CGS § 53-206c(b)) 2008
*One additional charge under this statute was dismissed but it is unclear whether the charge involved carrying under the influence or hunting under the influence, which is punished under (b) of this statute.
2ND DEGREE ASSAULT OF AN ELDERLY, BLIND, DISABLED, PREGNANT, OR INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED PERSON WITH A FIREARM (CGS § 53a-60c)
2ND DEGREE KIDNAPPING WITH A FIREARM (CGS § 53a-94a)
3RD DEGREE BURGLARY WITH A FIREARM (CGS § 53a-103a)
CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT STORAGE OF A FIREARM (CGS § 53a-217a)
Three other statutes punish possessing or carrying a variety of weapons including metal knuckles, certain knives, and firearms. We include these offenses separately, in Table 2, because it is likely that some of these charges involve firearms but it is unclear how many.
Table 2: Weapons-Related Offenses that May Include Firearms, Case Information
from FY 08 to FY 12
POSSESSING A WEAPON IN A VEHICLE (CGS § 29-38)
CARRYING A DANGEROUS WEAPON (CGS § 53-206)
POSSESSING A FIREARM OR DEADLY WEAPON ON SCHOOL GROUNDS (CGS § 53a-217b)