Gun Rights After a Connecticut Arrest: What to Expect and How to Protect Yourself If you own guns and you’ve just been arrested in Connecticut, the fear hits fast:
“Are they going to take my guns?”
“Is my pistol permit gone for good?”
“Am I ever going to be able to own a firearm again?”
If you’ve just been arrested in Connecticut, it can feel like your entire world is crashing down at once. People worry about everything all at once— “Am I going to jail? Will I lose my job? What happens to my kids? Is this on my record forever?”
One stormy night, one misunderstanding, or one mistake does not have to ruin the rest of your life. I’ve been defending people in Connecticut for over 30 years as a Connecticut criminal defense lawyer. Good, hard-working people find themselves in the criminal system every single day. You are not alone in this.
Why “Just Looking” at Their Social Media Can Still Be a ViolationIf you’ve been arrested in Connecticut and the judge issued a no-contact order, your whole life changes overnight—especially online.
I hear the same question in my office over and over:
Charged As a “Helper”? Why CT Treats You Like the Main ActorIf you’ve just learned that you or a loved one is being charged with conspiracy or as an accomplice, you’re probably thinking:
“But I didn’t actually do it.”
Why Paying a Store’s Civil Demand Letter won’t make your Shoplifting Case Go AwayIf you or a family member has been arrested for shoplifting in Connecticut, you’re probably worried about more than just the criminal charge.
You’re also asking yourself:
Strangulation — What You Need to Know if You Were ArrestedIf you were arrested for strangulation in Connecticut, you’re probably scared, confused, and worried about what this means for your record, your freedom, and your family.
I frequently observe this in my practice. A heated argument gets out of control, the police are called, and suddenly one person is facing a serious family-violence strangulation charge based on what happened in a few chaotic seconds.
When people hear “evading responsibility” (Connecticut’s version of hit-and-run), they usually picture the driver who caused the crash and then sped away. But in my practice, I get a very different kind of call all the time:“Attorney Friedman, I wasn’t even driving. I lent my car to a friend. Now the police are saying my car was in a hit-and-run. How can I be in trouble?”
Here’s the uncomfortable truth:
In Connecticut, if your vehicle is involved in an accident and leaves the scene, and the actual driver can’t be identified, you, as the owner, can be charged criminally with evading responsibility.
Guide for Non-CitizensFrom a Connecticut criminal defense lawyer — how to protect your record, your status, and your future—starting today.
If you were sitting across the table from me—coffee in hand, knot in your stomach—I’d start here: take a breath. What makes your situation different isn’t just the court date. It’s that one criminal case can collide with your immigration life—your job, travel, green card, visa, and future plans. My job is to manage the criminal case and protect your interests.
A Pre-Arrest Playbook (From a Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyer)Most people’s first instinct is to be polite: “I’ll just call the detective back and clear this up.” I get it. You don’t want to look guilty, and you think cooperation will make it go away. The reality is that calling back without a lawyer can turn a manageable situation into a criminal case. This quick guide explains what that voicemail really means, your rights in Connecticut, and how I handle these calls for clients to keep things simple. Remember, everything you say to a police officer can and will be used against you.
The Stop, the search, and your next move In Connecticut, you need a Connecticut pistol permit to carry a handgun—other states’ permits don’t count here. Since October 1, 2023, open carry in public is banned (with narrow exceptions), while concealed carry is allowed if you have a valid CT permit. Guns in cars come with strict transport and storage rules, and many first-time arrests come down to whether the stop and search were lawful. This page breaks down what is actually charged, what the state must prove, and the defenses that work in the real world.
Connecticut Criminal Lawyer Blog