Experiences with open carry in CT

[OpenCarryYes]

Does anyone OC in CT? If so, what has been your experience?

[BIGJOHN621]

The administrative rule for open carry in CT is (was):

"Every effort should be made to conceal a firearm at all times. Should discovery of an improperly concealed firearm cause a disturbance, arrest should be expected."

While this is not statute, it is practiced and was published on the state CCW page until updates a few years ago (2006 I believe). You can be stopped in CT just for open carry as it is a permit only state and you can be charged with Breach of Peace on a whim. The Board of Firearm Examiners will most likely revoke your permit as well regardless of conviction.

Read the CT General Statutes and be well versed as there are a lot of wrong quotes out on the web, including on the NRA site which still lists an exemption for CCW holders being allowed to carry on school grounds. This was removed from the law over 5 years ago, but is still listed on a lot of information pages for CT.

Lastly, remember that CT is a "May Issue" state with no recognition of outside permits so your permit can be revoked or suspended without specific violation of statute, but based on opinion. An open carry arrest may win you a legal victory, but they can still take your permit and not have to give it back.

Read the laws and make your decisions based on the statutes and not opinions or summaries, even mine above, as I can no longer find this in print anywhere and don't know of any case law that I can find. I do have an old pamphlet with this on it, but it may no longer be valid.

[Stratus41298]

I like my permit too much to tempt open carry. The rules that mandate a revocation reversal are draconian.

[TimeHasCome]

I just read a memo passed around the Torrington CT PD. It basically was to inform the officers, that open carry is NOT illegal in CT. It warned them not to "bully" or threaten anyone open carrying. It warned them that people would be open carrying to "bait" the officer and sue the dept. Ill search for the memo to post it here, but i did read it and was told about it from a local instructor.

[stevep229]

Why try to test the system....Keep it covered