The Liberty Preservation Act

An Act to Restore Firearm Rights and Repeal Prohibited Weapons and Magazine Restrictions in the State of Connecticut

Introduced by: Grandsons of Liberty (2025)

Drafted pursuant to:

• The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution

• Article First, Section 15 of the Connecticut Constitution

• District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), McDonald v. Chicago (2010), Caetano v. Massachusetts (2016), and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022)

Preamble to the Liberty Preservation Act:

Whereas, the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article First, Section 15 of the Connecticut Constitution recognize and protect the individual right to keep and bear arms;

Whereas, the United States Supreme Court, in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022), reaffirmed that firearm regulations are unconstitutional unless they are consistent with this Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation;

Whereas, the State of Connecticut has enacted and continues to enforce laws that burden or prohibit the lawful possession of commonly used arms and ammunition, without meeting the constitutional standard of historical justification;

Whereas, the United States Department of Justice has recently affirmed that states may not prohibit arms “in common use” by law-abiding citizens, and that such bans contradict the Supreme Court’s holding in Heller and Bruen.

Now, therefore, be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

LEGISLATIVE PURPOSE:

The purpose of this Act is to bring the laws of the State of Connecticut into compliance with the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article First, Section 15 of the Connecticut Constitution, as interpreted by the United States Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), McDonald v. Chicago (2010), Caetano v. Massachusetts (2016), and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022).

The General Assembly finds that certain statutes currently in effect impose burdens on the right to keep and bear arms that are not consistent with the Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation, and therefore violate the constitutional standards set forth by the Supreme Court.

These restrictions must be repealed in order to restore constitutional integrity, ensure equal protection under law, and reaffirm that no enumerated right is subject to arbitrary or interest-based limitation.

SECTION 1. REPEAL OF ASSAULT WEAPON AND MAGAZINE RESTRICTIONS:

The following provisions of the Connecticut General Statutes are hereby repealed in their entirety:

Sections 53-202a through 53-202x, inclusive.

The following public acts, along with any amendments, regulatory enactments, definitions, enforcement mechanisms, or judicial interpretations derived therefrom, are likewise repealed in full:

• Public Act No. 93-306 (1993)

• Public Act No. 13-3 (2013)

• Public Act No. 23-53 / House Bill No. 6667 (2023)

All statutes, administrative rules, and enforcement practices implemented under the authority of the foregoing are hereby declared null and void, with no force or effect.

SECTION 2. RESTORATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS:

(a) All restrictions on the ownership, possession, acquisition, transfer, sale, transportation, or use of firearms previously classified as “assault weapons” by statute, regulation, or administrative interpretation are hereby repealed and declared null, void, and of no legal effect.

(b) All restrictions on ammunition feeding devices, including any limitation on magazine capacity and any prohibition or regulation concerning the possession, sale, transfer, or transportation of so-called “large capacity magazines” (LCMs), are hereby repealed in full.

(c) Any and all statutory, regulatory, or administrative requirements related to Certificates of Possession, registration deadlines, transportation restrictions, storage mandates, or prohibited transfer rules established under the provisions identified in Section 1 are hereby repealed, and all such provisions are declared unenforceable.

(d) No individual shall be subject to criminal or civil penalty, investigation, loss of rights, or denial of privileges under state law solely for the lawful possession, acquisition, transfer, transportation, sale, or carry of any firearm or magazine previously restricted under the repealed provisions.

(e) This section shall apply retroactively. Any outstanding investigations, prosecutions, fines, or penalties initiated under the repealed provisions shall be dismissed, voided, or vacated upon motion, and any property seized under such provisions shall be returned to its rightful owner without delay.

SECTION 3. EXPUNGEMENT OF PENALTIES AND RESTORATION OF PROPERTY:

Any individual who is currently or was previously subject to arrest, investigation, indictment, prosecution, supervision, incarceration, or post-conviction monitoring solely for alleged violations of any statute or provision repealed under Section 1 shall be entitled to the following remedies:

(a) Immediate dismissal and termination of all ongoing legal proceedings, including investigations, charges, and prosecutions, upon motion or petition to the appropriate court or agency.

(b) Full sealing and expungement of all criminal charges, convictions, or records arising from enforcement of the repealed provisions, without the imposition of any court fees or administrative costs.

(c) Restoration of any lawfully owned firearms, magazines, ammunition, or related property that was seized under the repealed provisions, and return of all such property to the rightful owner without delay.

(d) Vacatur of judgment and, where applicable, resentencing or release from custody in cases where any portion of a conviction was based upon statutes now repealed.

(e) Eligibility for monetary compensation pursuant to existing Connecticut law in cases where property cannot be returned or was materially damaged, destroyed, or lost while in state custody.

(f) No state or local agency shall impose any fees, court costs, or administrative requirements as a condition of seeking or obtaining relief under this section. All relief shall be granted promptly upon verification of eligibility.

(g) The Attorney General of the State of Connecticut shall issue implementation guidelines within 60 days to ensure uniform application of this section across all jurisdictions and agencies.

SECTION 4. IMMEDIATE EFFECT AND RETROACTIVITY:

(a) This Act shall take effect immediately upon its passage by the General Assembly and approval by the Governor, in accordance with applicable procedures under Connecticut law.

(b) The provisions of this Act shall apply retroactively to all persons, entities, and property affected by the statutes repealed under Section 1, regardless of the date of the alleged offense, arrest, prosecution, conviction, administrative action, or seizure.

(c) No court, law enforcement agency, prosecutorial office, or administrative body within the State of Connecticut shall enforce or attempt to enforce any statute, regulation, or administrative rule repealed under this Act after the effective date of enactment.

(d) All pending investigations, prosecutions, enforcement actions, or civil penalties based on the repealed provisions shall be terminated without further proceedings, and any associated records shall be subject to expungement as outlined in Section 3.

SECTION 5. CONSTITUTIONAL COMPLIANCE AND FUTURE LIMITATIONS:

(a) No statute, regulation, administrative rule, executive order, or other governmental action within the State of Connecticut shall impose any restriction on the ownership, possession, transfer, sale, transportation, or use of firearms, ammunition, magazines, or firearm-related accessories that infringes upon the rights guaranteed by:

    (1) The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court of the United States, including but not limited to District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), McDonald v. Chicago (2010), Caetano v. Massachusetts (2016), and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022); and

    (2) Article First, Section 15 of the Connecticut Constitution.

(b) No firearm, magazine, ammunition, or accessory shall be restricted, prohibited, regulated, or taxed based on its cosmetic features, technical configurations, function, or descriptive terminology, including but not limited to:

    - Pistol grips, barrel shrouds, collapsible or adjustable stocks, flash suppressors, muzzle brakes, threaded barrels, bayonet lugs, folding mechanisms, trigger upgrades, or integrated suppressors.

(c) Any future legislation in the State of Connecticut that seeks to regulate, restrict, or prohibit the manufacture, sale, possession, transport, or use of firearms, magazines, or ammunition shall meet the following requirements:

    (1) It must receive a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate; and

    (2) It must explicitly cite and conform to the historical tradition standards established in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022).

(d) Any resident of the State of Connecticut whose rights are infringed by any statute, regulation, executive action, or enforcement activity in violation of this Act shall have standing to bring a civil action for declaratory, injunctive, compensatory, or other appropriate relief in a court of competent jurisdiction.

(e) The provisions of this section shall apply prospectively and retroactively to all actions taken under color of law.

SECTION 5-A. LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT AND SUPREME COURT CLARIFICATION:

Recent federal developments underscore the urgent need for the State of Connecticut to repeal its current restrictions on constitutionally protected arms.

In 2025, the United States Department of Justice filed an amicus brief in Snope v. Brown, challenging Illinois’ so-called “assault weapons” ban. The DOJ stated:

“Regrettably, not every State got the message [from Bruen]. Just a few months after Bruen, Illinois outlawed some of the most commonly used rifles and magazines in America...” — DOJ Amicus Brief, Snope v. Brown, No. 24-203 (U.S. 2025)

The brief reaffirmed that bans on arms “in common use” by law-abiding citizens violate the controlling precedent set forth in District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008), and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, 597 U.S. 1 (2022).

Additionally, Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas have issued public statements indicating that the Supreme Court is likely to grant certiorari in the near term to review and reverse lower court decisions that uphold such bans. See, e.g., Snope v. Brown, No. 24-203, 605 U.S. __ (2025) (statements of Kavanaugh, J. and Thomas, J.).

These developments confirm that Connecticut’s assault weapon and magazine bans are not only unconstitutional under existing law, but are unsustainable in light of imminent Supreme Court action. Passage of the Liberty Preservation Act will align state law with controlling federal precedent, preempt costly litigation, and restore the constitutional rights of Connecticut residents.

SECTION 6. SEVERABILITY:

If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such ruling shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions or applications of this Act, which shall be given full force and effect to the greatest extent possible.

It is the express intent of the General Assembly that the provisions of this Act are severable.

SECTION 7. AFFIRMATION OF SOVEREIGN RIGHTS:The General Assembly affirms that the right to keep and bear arms is essential to the preservation of liberty, and that the restoration of these rights through this Act is both a legal and moral obligation owed to the people of Connecticut.

Let this Act stand as a reaffirmation that the Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land, and that no government may lawfully infringe upon the rights it protects.