(a) Except as provided in sections 26-85 and 26-90, firearms and ammunition, adjudged by the court to be contraband pursuant to subsection (c) of § 54-36a, or adjudicated a nuisance pursuant to § 54-33g, shall be turned over to the Bureau of Identification of the Connecticut Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for destruction or appropriate use or disposal by sale at public auction.

(b) Firearms and ammunition turned over to the state police pursuant to subsection (a) of this section which are not destroyed or retained for appropriate use shall be sold at public auctions, conducted by the Commissioner of Administrative Services or said commissioner’s designee. Pistols and revolvers, as defined in § 53a-3, which are antiques, as defined in § 29-33, or curios or relics, as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 27, chapter 1, Part 178, or modern pistols and revolvers which have a current retail value of one hundred dollars or more may be sold at such public auctions, provided such pistols and revolvers shall be sold only to persons who have a valid permit to sell a pistol or revolver, or a valid permit to carry a pistol or revolver, issued pursuant to § 29-28. Rifles and shotguns, as defined in § 53a-3, shall be sold only to persons qualified under federal law to purchase such rifles and shotguns and who have a valid long gun eligibility certificate issued pursuant to § 29-37p. The proceeds of any such sale shall be paid to the State Treasurer and deposited by the State Treasurer in the forfeit firearms account within the General Fund.