How did Nancy Lanza legally own a Bushmaster rifle?

[bigrebnc1861]

It is illegal to own an assault weapon in the state of Connecticut IF you did not own it before October 1, 1993?

Sec. 53-202c. Possession of assault weapon prohibited. Class D felony. (a) Except as provided in section 53-202e, any person who, within this state, possesses any assault weapon, except as provided in sections 29-37j, 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, and 53-202o and subsection (h) of section 53a-46a, shall be guilty of a class D felony and shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of which one year may not be suspended or reduced; except that a first-time violation of this subsection shall be a class A misdemeanor if (1) the person presents proof that he lawfully possessed the assault weapon prior to October 1, 1993, and (2) the person has otherwise possessed the firearm in compliance with subsection (d) of section 53-202d.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the possession of assault weapons by members or employees of the Department of Public Safety, police departments, the Department of Correction or the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States for use in the discharge of their official duties; nor shall anything in sections 29-37j and 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, and subsection (h) of section 53a-46a prohibit the possession or use of assault weapons by sworn members of these agencies when on duty and the use is within the scope of their duties.

(c) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the possession of an assault weapon by any person prior to July 1, 1994, if all of the following are applicable:

(1) The person is eligible under sections 29-37j and 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, and subsection (h) of section 53a-46a to apply for a certificate of possession for the assault weapon by July 1, 1994;

(2) The person lawfully possessed the assault weapon prior to October 1, 1993; and

(3) The person is otherwise in compliance with sections 29-37j and 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, and subsection (h) of section 53a-46a.

(d) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to a person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that includes an assault weapon for which a certificate of possession has been issued under section 53-202d, if the assault weapon is possessed at a place set forth in subdivision (1) of subsection (d) of section 53-202d or as authorized by the Probate Court.

CHAPTER 943 OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC PEACE AND SAFETY

Unless she owned it before October 1, 1993 which in my opinion is doubtful that she owned one before 1993, But reports were that she had it legally registered. There are many things about this shooting at sandy hook that just doesn't add up.

[Mmchugh]

It is illegal to own a "assault rifle" in CT if it has more then 2 "evil" features. So pistol grip and detachable magazine is all its legally allowed to have. That means no flash suppressor, no threaded barrel, no bayonet lug, no grenade launcher, no collapsable stock( must be pinned)

[revolverboy]

With only 1 of the "evil features" that define an "assault rifle", it would then be a Modern Sporting Rifle. So therefor, Lanza did not use an assault rifle. The evil features are purely cosmetic & do not change the way the rifle functions.

[jg1967]

It is illegal to own an assault weapon in the state of Connecticut IF you did not own it before October 1, 1993?


CHAPTER 943 OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC PEACE AND SAFETY

Unless she owned it before October 1, 1993 which in my opinion is doubtful that she owned one before 1993, But reports were that she had it legally registered. There are many things about this shooting at sandy hook that just doesn't add up.

This particular question I would like to get clearly answered, too.

[Kalamity023]

In CT you can own a "ban compliant" rifle. The muzzle break is welded, the stock is pinned. The bayonet lug is ground off. As others have stated the max a semi-auto rifle can have is 2 features a detachable magazine being one and a pistol grip being 2. Secondly, if the gun was made prior to 1994 and does not fall into the list of specifically banned firearms, it is considered Pre-Ban, and can have all of the features anyone so chooses.

[bigrebnc1861]

It is illegal to own an assault weapon in the state of Connecticut IF you did not own it before October 1, 1993?


CHAPTER 943 OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC PEACE AND SAFETY

Unless she owned it before October 1, 1993 which in my opinion is doubtful that she owned one before 1993, But reports were that she had it legally registered. There are many things about this shooting at sandy hook that just doesn't add up.

Forgot too add this

(B) A semiautomatic pistol that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least two of the following:

i. an ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip;

ii. a threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, forward handgrip or silencer;

iii. a shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel and permits the shooter to hold the firearm with the nontrigger hand without being burned;

iv. a manufactured weight of fifty ounces or more when the pistol is unloaded; and

v. a semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm.
ASSAULT WEAPON