General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 6668
January Session, 2013		LCO No. 4741
		*04741_______JUD*
Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY
Introduced by:
(JUD)

AN ACT CONCERNING THE PENALTIES FOR CRIMES INVOLVING FIREARMS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 53-202aa of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(a) A person is guilty of firearms trafficking if such person, knowingly and intentionally, directly or indirectly, causes one or more firearms that such person owns, is in possession of or is in control of to come into the possession of or control of another person who such person knows or has reason to believe is prohibited from owning or possessing any firearm under state or federal law.

(b) (1) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class C felony if such person, on or after October 1, 2007, but prior to October 1, 2013, sells, delivers or otherwise transfers five or fewer firearms, and a class B felony if such person, on or after October 1, 2007, but prior to October 1, 2013, sells, delivers or otherwise transfers more than five firearms. (2) On and after October 1, 2013, any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class B felony for which three years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and ten 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.

(c) For the purposes of this section, "firearm" means "firearm" as defined in section 53a-3, but does not include [a rifle or shotgun or] an antique firearm as defined in subsection (b) of section 29-37a.

Sec. 2. Section 53a-212 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(a) A person is guilty of stealing a firearm when, with intent to deprive another person of [his] such other person's firearm or to appropriate the [same to himself] firearm to such person or a third party, [he] such person wrongfully takes, obtains or withholds a firearm, as defined in subdivision (19) of section 53a-3.

(b) Stealing a firearm is a class [D] 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.

Sec. 3. Section 53a-217 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(a) A person is guilty of criminal possession of a firearm or electronic defense weapon when such person possesses a firearm or electronic defense weapon and (1) has been convicted of a felony, (2) has been convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense, as defined in section 46b-120, (3) knows that such person is subject to (A) a restraining or protective order of a court of this state that has been issued against such person, after notice and an opportunity to be heard has been provided to such person, in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, or (B) a foreign order of protection, as defined in section 46b-15a, that has been issued against such person in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, (4) knows that such person is subject to a firearms seizure order issued pursuant to subsection (d) of section 29-38c after notice and an opportunity to be heard has been provided to such person, or (5) is prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922(g)(4). For the purposes of this section, "convicted" means having a judgment of conviction entered by a court of competent jurisdiction, and a motor vehicle violation for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment of more than one year may be imposed shall be deemed an unclassified felony.

(b) Criminal possession of a firearm or electronic defense weapon is a class [D] 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.

Sec. 4. Section 53a-217c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(a) A person is guilty of criminal possession of a pistol or revolver when such person possesses a pistol or revolver, as defined in section 29-27, and (1) has been convicted of a felony or of a violation of subsection (c) of section 21a-279 or section 53a-58, 53a-61, 53a-61a, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-96, 53a-175, 53a-176, 53a-178 or 53a-181d, (2) has been convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense, as defined in section 46b-120, (3) has been discharged from custody within the preceding twenty years after having been found not guilty of a crime by reason of mental disease or defect pursuant to section 53a-13, (4) has been confined in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities, as defined in section 17a-495, within the preceding twelve months by order of a probate court, (5) knows that such person is subject to (A) a restraining or protective order of a court of this state that has been issued against such person, after notice and an opportunity to be heard has been provided to such person, in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, or (B) a foreign order of protection, as defined in section 46b-15a, that has been issued against such person in a case involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, (6) knows that such person is subject to a firearms seizure order issued pursuant to subsection (d) of section 29-38c after notice and an opportunity to be heard has been provided to such person, (7) is prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm pursuant to 18 USC 922(g)(4), or (8) is an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States. For the purposes of this section, "convicted" means having a judgment of conviction entered by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(b) Criminal possession of a pistol or revolver is a class [D] 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.

Sec. 5. Section 29-32 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(a) For the purposes of this section, "conviction" means the entry of a judgment of conviction by any court of competent jurisdiction.

(b) Any state permit or temporary state permit for the carrying of any pistol or revolver may be revoked by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection for cause and shall be revoked by said commissioner upon conviction of the holder of such permit of a felony or of any misdemeanor specified in subsection (b) of section 29-28 or upon the occurrence of any event which would have disqualified the holder from being issued the state permit or temporary state permit pursuant to subsection (b) of section 29-28. Upon the revocation of any state permit or temporary state permit, the person whose state permit or temporary state permit is revoked shall be notified in writing and such state permit or temporary state permit shall be forthwith delivered to the commissioner. Any law enforcement authority shall confiscate and immediately forward to the commissioner any state permit or temporary state permit that is illegally possessed by any person. The commissioner may revoke the state permit or temporary state permit based upon the commissioner's own investigation or upon the request of any law enforcement agency. Any person who fails to surrender any permit within five days of notification in writing of revocation thereof shall be guilty of a class [C] A misdemeanor.

(c) Any local permit for the carrying of a pistol or revolver issued prior to October 1, 2001, may be revoked by the authority issuing the same for cause, and shall be revoked by the authority issuing the same upon conviction of the holder of such permit of a felony or of any misdemeanor specified in subsection (b) of section 29-28 or upon the occurrence of any event which would have disqualified the holder from being issued such local permit. Upon the revocation of any local permit, the person whose local permit is revoked shall be notified in writing and such permit shall be forthwith delivered to the authority issuing the same. Upon the revocation of any local permit, the authority issuing the same shall forthwith notify the commissioner. Upon the revocation of any permit issued by the commissioner, the commissioner shall forthwith notify any local authority which the records of the commissioner show as having issued a currently valid local permit to the holder of the permit revoked by the commissioner. Any person who fails to surrender such permit within five days of notification in writing or revocation thereof shall be guilty of a class [C] A misdemeanor.

Sec. 6. Subsections (h) and (i) of section 29-33 of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(h) 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, [it] the court may order suspension of prosecution. The court shall not order suspension of prosecution unless the accused person has acknowledged that he 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 right to a speedy trial. Such person shall appear in court and shall be released to the custody 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 his period of probation, he may apply for dismissal of the charges against him and the court, on finding such satisfactory completion, shall dismiss such charges. If the person does not apply for dismissal of the charges against him after satisfactorily completing his period of probation, the court, upon receipt of a report submitted by the Court Support Services Division that the person satisfactorily completed his 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 his period of probation or terminating the participation of a defendant in such program shall be a final judgment for purposes of appeal.

(i) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class [D] C felony, except that any person who sells, delivers or otherwise transfers a pistol or revolver in violation of the provisions of this section [,] knowing that such pistol or revolver is stolen or that the manufacturer's number or other mark of identification on such pistol or revolver has been altered, removed or obliterated, shall be guilty of a class B felony for which three years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, and ten 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 pistol or revolver found in the possession of any person in violation of any provision of this section shall be forfeited.

Sec. 7. Section 29-34 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(a) No person shall make any false statement or give any false information connected with any purchase, sale, delivery or other transfer of any pistol or revolver. Any person violating any provision of this subsection shall be guilty of a class [D] C felony for which three 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.

(b) No person shall sell, barter, hire, lend, give, deliver or otherwise transfer to any person under the age of twenty-one years any pistol or revolver, except that a pistol or revolver may be temporarily transferred to any person only for the use by such person in target shooting or on a firing or shooting range, provided such use is otherwise permitted by law and is under the immediate supervision of a person eligible to possess a pistol or revolver. Any person violating any provision of this subsection shall be guilty of a class [D] C felony for which one year of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court.

(c) Any pistol or revolver found in the possession of any person in violation of any provision of this section shall be forfeited.

Sec. 8. Section 29-36 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(a) No person shall remove, deface, alter or obliterate the name of any maker or model or any maker's number or other mark of identification on any firearm as defined in section 53a-3. The possession of any firearm upon which any identifying mark, number or name has been removed, defaced, altered or obliterated shall be prima facie evidence that the person owning or in possession of such firearm has removed, defaced, altered or obliterated the same.

(b) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be [fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years or both] guilty of a class C felony for which 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 said provision shall be forfeited.

Sec. 9. Section 29-36i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(a) Any eligibility certificate for a pistol or revolver shall be revoked by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection upon the occurrence of any event which would have disqualified the holder from being issued the certificate pursuant to section 29-36f.

(b) Upon the revocation of any eligibility certificate, the person whose eligibility certificate is revoked shall be notified in writing and such certificate shall be forthwith delivered to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Any person who fails to surrender such certificate within five days of notification in writing of revocation thereof shall be guilty of a class [C] A misdemeanor.

Sec. 10. Section 29-37j of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(a) Any person who purchases a firearm, as defined in section 53a-3, pursuant to section 29-33, as amended by this act, or 29-37a with the intent to transfer such firearm to any other person who the transferor knows or has reason to believe is prohibited from purchasing or otherwise receiving such a firearm pursuant to section 29-33, as amended by this act, or 29-37a shall be [fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years or both] guilty of a class C felony for which 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.

(b) Any person prohibited from purchasing or otherwise receiving or possessing a firearm and who solicits, employs or assists any person in violating the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a class [B misdemeanor. If the] D felony, except that if such person who is prohibited from purchasing or otherwise receiving or possessing a firearm obtains a firearm pursuant to a violation of subsection (a) of this section, [involves a transfer of more than one firearm,] such person shall be guilty of a class [A misdemeanor] C felony for which 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. Each transfer shall constitute a separate offense.

(c) Any person convicted of violating the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section and who was convicted of a felony within the prior five-year period shall be guilty of a class [D] B felony for which ten 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.

Sec. 11. Subsection (b) of section 53-202g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(b) Any person who fails to make a report required by subsection (a) of this section within the prescribed time period shall [commit an infraction and be fined not more than ninety dollars] be guilty of a class A misdemeanor for a first offense and be guilty of a class D felony for any subsequent offense, except that, if such person intentionally fails to make such report within the prescribed time period, such person shall be guilty of a class C felony. Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section for the first offense shall not lose such person's right to hold or obtain any firearm permit under the general statutes.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	October 1, 2013	53-202aa
Sec. 2	October 1, 2013	53a-212
Sec. 3	October 1, 2013	53a-217
Sec. 4	October 1, 2013	53a-217c
Sec. 5	October 1, 2013	29-32
Sec. 6	October 1, 2013	29-33(h) and (i)
Sec. 7	October 1, 2013	29-34
Sec. 8	October 1, 2013	29-36
Sec. 9	October 1, 2013	29-36i
Sec. 10	October 1, 2013	29-37j
Sec. 11	October 1, 2013	53-202g(b)

Statement of Purpose:

To increase certain criminal penalties related to firearms.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]