Title: Gun Seizure Law

Publication Date: June 25, 2008

What does it say?

Connecticut state law allows police, after investigating and determining probable cause, to get a court warrant and seize guns from anyone posing an imminent risk of harming himself or someone else. Since October 1, 1999, when the law took effect, police have applied for at least 222 warrants and seized at least 1,713 guns. 

Sixty-three percent of the cases were based on a suicide or murder allegation, or both.  Almost half of the complaints triggering a warrant application were submitted by spouses, partners, or family members. Because of reporting issues, the report may underreport the number of warrant applications submitted and the number of guns seized.  For cases for which disposition information was available, courts upheld the gun seizures in 81 percent of the cases.

How can I use it?

This report documents the utility of providing law enforcement a tool to remove guns from people found to be an imminent danger to themselves or others.

Citation

Rose, Veronica and Megan Reilly, Office of Legislative Research: Gun Seizure Law, Connecticut Judicial Branch Law Library, OLR Report 2008-R-0280, June 25, 2008.