Connecticut Firearms Violations

Written By CT Criminal Defense Lawyer, Attorney Tina Sypek D’Amato

As a result of the rise in deaths caused by firearms, the gun laws in Connecticut have changed significantly. Penalties for long guns, sawed-off shotguns, Desert Eagle, AK-47, Assault Weapons; hand guns or pistols like a Beretta, 40 Caliber Glock, single shot and machine pistol, semi-automatic, multi barrel, semi-automatic, harmonica and multi-barrel pistols, et seq., have been enhanced significantly. Mandatory minimum sentences, the length of which depends upon your criminal or lack of criminal record.

There are criminal penalties imposed for negligent storage of firearms, guns, long-guns, revolvers, pistols, hand-guns, assault riffles and even BB guns, air riffles and pellet guns. There are laws against possession of ammunition. Some people are disqualified from and prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition and AIR Guns and BB Guns are considered firearms! For example, some people may have a misdemeanor conviction for a disqualifying crime like assault 3^rd or a domestic crime. Or they may be subject to a current protective order or a valid restraining order. Maybe you’re a convicted felon. Regardless of your circumstances, you need a good lawyer to handle your case. If you are looking for a knowledgeable lawyer to handle your gun case, I am the best lawyer to handle your case.

There are also criminal penalties imposed for transporting firearms, guns, long-guns, revolvers, pistols, hand-guns, assault rifles and even BB guns, air riffles and pellet guns improperly. If you are looking for an experienced lawyer to handle your gun charges, Tina Sypek D’Amato is the best lawyer to handle your case.

A person can be charged with a crime even if all they have is ammunition or a bullet-proof vest. If you are looking for an experienced lawyer to handle your ammunition charges, Tina Sypek D’Amato is the best lawyer to handle your case.

In most cases, pre-trial diversionary programs like Accelerated Rehabilitation for gun charges will not be granted. Accelerated Rehabilitation results in a dismissal of the charges if the person abides by certain conditions imposed by the court. With an aggressive lawyer like Tina Sypek D’Amato, you have the best chance of being granted that program and your case dismissed. But worse case scenario, I will work to mitigate the damage and help the prosecutor see you as a person, not a docket number.

Firearms and Traffic Violations

If you’re stopped for a traffic violation, the police officer is only allowed to ask questions regarding that traffic violation, and if relevant, search the vehicle for more evidence of that violation. 

So for instance, if you’re stopped for driving through a red light, the police officer can only ask you questions about going through the red light. There would be no reason to search the vehicle. Of course, unless they smell marijuana! If you’ve been smoking marijuana in your vehicle and the officer can smell it, he does have the right to search your vehicle for more, as that would be more evidence to substantiate. The reason why is because even though marijuana possession is legal, driving while impaired is not. And not all amounts of marijuana are legal! So now he can probably justify a search.

So to clarify, do not answer questions as to where you came from, where you are going, who you are with, or what your relationship is to your passenger. Be polite; tell the officer that this is scary and you need to ask a lawyer like they advise you on TV. Do not allow them to search the vehicle. Even when you think everything is legal, there may be something like a bb gun, illegal storage of a firearm (which includes bb guns), prescription drugs someone left in your vehicle or even worse . . . your passenger has illegal substances stashed in the vehicle! Or maybe the passenger has a valid, current protective order! Just relax and tell the officer you need to consult with a lawyer before answering any questions or allowing any search. You should answer pedigree information and cooperate with any questions related to the stop itself.