Enacted

Connecticut

Public Act 19-6 and Public Act 23-53

Two laws, and a serialisation deadline that has already closed.

Last reviewed 2026-08-02

Connecticut's landmark measure was Public Act 19-6, An Act Concerning Ghost Guns, originally House Bill 7219, passed in 2019. It defined unfinished frames and lower receivers, the printed base of a weapon, and prohibited their sale, transfer or possession without a unique serial number.

Public Act 23-53, An Act Addressing Gun Violence, originally House Bill 6667, followed in 2023 and went further, banning undetectable firearms outright and setting a hard compliance deadline.

That deadline has passed. Since January 1, 2024, possessing an unserialised 3D-printed gun or frame in Connecticut is a Class C felony carrying up to ten years.

The bill

What it actually does

  1. 1

    PA 19-6 (2019): defined unfinished frames and lower receivers and prohibited their sale, transfer or possession without a unique serial number.

  2. 2

    PA 19-6 (2019): anyone using a 3D printer to manufacture a firearm or frame must first obtain a serial number from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and permanently engrave it to federal standards.

  3. 3

    PA 23-53 (2023): bans the manufacture, possession or sale of any firearm that cannot be detected by standard security screening, making a fully plastic printed gun a felony.

  4. 4

    PA 23-53 (2023): required all home-built or printed firearms to be serialised and reported to DESPP by January 1, 2024, or surrendered.

In plain language

What it means for you

The short version The compliance window closed at the start of 2024, so this is enforcement rather than pending law. Rep. Steve Stafstrom, co-chair of the Judiciary Committee, authored the 2019 bill, and Governor Ned Lamont signed both.
Get involved

Civic Engagement & Policy Involvement Options

  • Support Enforcement of Ghost Gun Laws

    Focus Area

    Track state implementation of serialization and how DESPP manages reporting of 3D-printed components.

    Direct Action Channel

    Engage in community advocacy or contact state representatives to support ongoing funding for DESPP's firearms unit.

    Primary Resource / Contact

    CT Against Gun Violence (CAGV) / Everytown CT

  • Protect Open-Source & Additive Tech

    Focus Area

    Ensure that general-purpose 3D printers, CAD software, and industrial makerspaces are not misclassified as weapons-manufacturing equipment.

    Direct Action Channel

    Provide technical educational tours of makerspaces or submit testimony to the CT Judiciary Committee during future legislative sessions.

    Primary Resource / Contact

    Local CT Makerspaces & FabLabs / Direct Legislative Outreach

  • Track Future Legislative Proposals

    Focus Area

    Monitor new bill introductions regarding digital file sharing, slicing software, or printer hardware regulations in upcoming sessions.

    Direct Action Channel

    Set up bill tracking alerts for 3D printing and firearms policy terms.

    Primary Resource / Contact

    Connecticut General Assembly Portal (cga.ct.gov)

  • Direct Policy Engagement

    Focus Area

    Voice constituent concerns to elected officials about balancing public safety with technology innovation.

    Direct Action Channel

    Schedule meetings with local House and Senate district members.

    Primary Resource / Contact

    Connecticut State Legislature Member Directory

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Elsewhere

Also enacted