2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 29 - Public Safety and State Police › Chapter 529 - Division of State Police › Section 29-36a. - Manufacture of a firearm. Acquisition of unique serial number or other mark of identification. Exceptions. Penalty.

(a) No person shall complete the manufacture of a firearm without subsequently (1) obtaining a unique serial number or other mark of identification from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and (2) engraving upon or permanently affixing to the firearm such serial number or other mark in a manner that conforms with the requirements imposed on licensed importers and licensed manufacturers of firearms pursuant to 18 USC 923(i), as amended from time to time, and any regulation adopted thereunder.
(b) Not later than thirty days after a person completes the manufacture of a firearm or ninety days after the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection provides notice in accordance with section 29-36b that the system to distribute a unique serial number or other mark of identification pursuant to this section is operational, whichever date is later, such person shall notify the department of such manufacture and provide any identifying information to the department concerning the firearm and the owner of such firearm, in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Upon receiving a properly submitted request for a unique serial number or other mark of identification from a person who completes manufacture of a firearm, the department shall determine if such person is prohibited from purchasing a firearm and if not, shall issue to such person a unique serial number or other mark of identification immediately and in no instance more than three business days after the department receives such request. Issuance of a unique serial number or other mark of identification pursuant to this subsection shall not be evidence that the firearm is otherwise lawfully possessed.
(c) The provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not apply to the manufacture of a firearm manufactured using an unfinished frame or lower receiver on which a serial number or other mark has been engraved or permanently affixed pursuant to subsection (c) of section 53-206j.
(d) No person shall transfer to another person any firearm manufactured in violation of this section.
(e) The provisions of this section shall not apply to (1) the manufacture of firearms by a federally licensed firearm manufacturer, (2) (A) any antique firearm, as defined in 18 USC 921, as amended from time to time, or (B) any firearm manufactured prior to the effective date of this section, provided such firearm is otherwise lawfully possessed, or (3) delivery or transfer of a firearm to a law enforcement agency.
(f) No person shall facilitate, aid or abet the manufacture of a firearm (1) by a person or for a person who is otherwise prohibited by law from purchasing or possessing a firearm, or (2) that a person is otherwise prohibited by law from purchasing or possessing.
(g) If the court finds that a violation of this section is not of a serious nature and that the person charged with such violation (1) will probably not offend in the future, (2) has not previously been convicted of a violation of this section, and (3) has not previously had a prosecution under this section suspended pursuant to this subsection, the court may order suspension of prosecution. The court shall not order suspension of prosecution unless the accused person has acknowledged that he or she understands the consequences of the suspension of prosecution. Any person for whom prosecution is suspended shall agree to the tolling of any statute of limitations with respect to such violation and to a waiver of his or her right to a speedy trial. Such person shall appear in court and shall be released to the supervision of the Court Support Services Division for such period, not exceeding two years, and under such conditions as the court shall order. If the person refuses to accept, or, having accepted, violates such conditions, the court shall terminate the suspension of prosecution and the case shall be brought to trial. If such person satisfactorily completes such person's period of probation, he or she may apply for dismissal of the charges against such person and the court, on finding such satisfactory completion, shall dismiss such charges. If the person does not apply for dismissal of the charges against such person after satisfactorily completing such person's period of probation, the court, upon receipt of a report submitted by the Court Support Services Division that the person satisfactorily completed such person's period of probation, may on its own motion make a finding of such satisfactory completion and dismiss such charges. Upon dismissal, all records of such charges shall be erased pursuant to section 54-142a. An order of the court denying a motion to dismiss the charges against a person who has completed such person's period of probation or terminating the participation of a defendant in such program shall be a final judgment for purposes of appeal.
(h) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class C felony for which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and five thousand dollars of the fine imposed may not be remitted or reduced by the court unless the court states on the record its reasons for remitting or reducing such fine, and any firearm found in the possession of any person in violation of any provision of this section shall be forfeited.
(i) For purposes of this section, “manufacture” means to fabricate or construct a firearm including the initial assembly, “firearm” means firearm, as defined in section 53a-3 and “law enforcement agency” means law enforcement agency, as defined in section 29-1i.
(P.A. 19-6, S. 2; P.A. 22-26, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 22-26 amended Subsec. (g) by replacing “custody” with “supervision”, effective May 10, 2022.