Connecticut gunowners are facing one of the most significant proposed restrictions on handgun ownership since the Assault Weapons Ban. House Bill 5043, backed by Governor Ned Lamont and now awaiting his signature, will ban the sale, manufacture, and transfer of so-called “convertible pistols”, a new category of firearms that critics argue is broad enough to effectively remove Glocks and a wide range of popular striker-fired handguns from the Connecticut market. Here’s a plain-language breakdown of what the bill does, what it doesn’t do, and what it means for you.
What is H.B. 5043? Backed by “gun safety” advocates, Governor Lamont’s legislation will make Connecticut the second state after California to ban the manufacture and sale of “convertible” handguns specifically, pistols that can easily be made to function as an illegal machine gun through the attachment of an aftermarket device. The bill targets pistols described as having a cruciform trigger bar that can be “readily converted” by hand or with a common household tool into a machine gun solely by the installation or attachment of a pistol converter. In practical terms, this language targets Glock pistols and Glock-style clones, the most widely owned category of handguns in the United States. The proposed penalties are severe: selling or distributing a banned pistol would be classified as a Class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine.
I own/want to own a Glock, what do I need to know? Per a post made by the Connecticut Citizens Defense League on Facebook and Instagram, here are some of the highlights: This bill only prohibits the sale of “convertible pistols” as defined. Not the possession, nor carry, thus no additional registration or regulation required. If you currently lawfully own a Glock? No further action is needed on your part to stay law-abiding. This bill bans the sale of “convertible pistols” as defined, that were manufactured after 10/1/2026. Yes, this means that there is now going to be a preban market of transferrable “convertible pistols”, which includes Generation 1-5 Glocks (now out of production), and many more Glock clones that are already in the hands of law-abiding citizens. From public testimony by the proponents of this bill, the Glock Gen V and 6 series pistols will be not banned because they do not meet the set standard of “readily convertible” due to the geometry changes made by Glock.
The hot question: so, what am I rushing to buy? After 10/1/26 it will become significantly harder to identify which firearms are banned under the language of this bill because it hinges on manufacture date. Will you call every vendor on Gunbroker that’s selling a Ruger RxM, hoping that it’s manufactured prior to 10/1/26? Then call Ruger to verify? Now is the best time to acquire Glock/Glock clones that will be regulated come October, as we know for certain that if you acquire it prior to October, it was indeed manufactured prior to the manufacturing deadline.
Arcana Arms serves the responsible, law-abiding gunowners of Connecticut. People that have completed background checks, survived the onerous permitting process, and take their rights seriously. Legislation like H.B. 5043 doesn’t target criminals, whom are seemingly above the law. It targets you, the law-abiding gunowner. Follow Arcana Arms for more pertinent industry updates, and for made-to-measure CT firearms content.
Read the final bill language here.
Join our allies at the Connecticut Citizens Defense League to take action.
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