BRANFORD, CT (WFSB) -
There was a flurry of activity at Connecticut gun shops as the deadline for state's new gun safety law went into effect just after noon.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed a bill into law Thursday afternoon that will bring sweeping changes to gun control.
The bipartisan agreement on gun control limits magazines to no more than 10 rounds. Those who currently have larger magazines would have to register them with state police.
The legislation, which is a 139-page bill, will create strong penalties for anyone who carries large ammunition magazines away from home or a gun range.
The state would also become the first in the country to create a dangerous weapon offender registry and there would be universal background checks for assault weapons.
However, the new laws have created confusion among Connecticut gun owners.
On Thursday, people flocked to gun stores to buy firearms before the new laws went into effect. Orders were being taken over the phone.
"We'd be happy to take your order, but things are really hopping now," said one employee at TGS Outdoors in Branford.
At TGS Outdoors, the owners were still processing orders and seeing which gun sales would be approved by the state.
"Right now is just going to be business as usual until we get the word what we can and can't do," said Brian Owens of TGS Outdoors.
The governor's office told Eyewitness News the restrictions on which guns could be sold went into effect immediately. The sale of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds was also banned as of 12:15 p.m.
Even if a Connecticut resident bought magazines with more
than 10 rounds Thursday, they won't be able to keep them after Jan 1.
Because
of the registration of the large capacity magazines that begins on Jan. 1, 2014
would require the owners
to show they legally owned the more than 10 round magazine before April 4.
These gun salesmen told Eyewitness News they will err on the side of caution.
"I'm not going to take the risk," said Mike Higgins of TGS Outdoors. "They're probably going to end up with things on their shelves that they can't sell within Connecticut."
To read the full law, click the following link.
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