A handgun training class is required to get a concealed carry weapon (CCW) permit if you have no other valid proof of training in the last 10 years.
A training class is essential to learning proper gun handling, safety, storage, and marksmanship techniques. Even experienced shooters should take handgun classes periodically to refresh their skills.
In Colorado, you must have a valid concealed carry weapon (CCW) permit to conceal a firearm on your person. It is a criminal misdemeanor to carry concealed without a permit in Colorado. In some states, it’s a felony.
A permit to carry a concealed weapon that was issued to a person (who is at least 21 years of age) by another state will be considered valid in Colorado if the other state, in turn, recognizes Colorado’s concealed handgun permits. [C.R.S. §18-12-105.6]
If you are on active duty, you’re not required to take a class, but we recommend that you do. The rules of engagement and deadly force are different in civilian life.
It is essential to know what you can and cannot do legally. Your military career can be affected if you don’t thoroughly understand your rights.
Yes, you must apply with the sheriff’s office of the county you reside in. If you move to another county in Colorado, you must notify your previous sheriff within 30 days.
The best way to store firearms at home is inside a secure gun safe or with a locking device specifically designed for firearms. This helps prevent unauthorized access, theft, and accidents.
Firearms should be stored unloaded. Storing them with an empty chamber and without a magazine reduces the risk of accidental discharge and enhances overall safety.
Both gun safes and lockboxes can be effective storage options, depending on your needs. Gun safes provide more comprehensive protection against theft and unauthorized access, while lockboxes offer quick access for self-defense purposes.
When choosing a gun safe, consider factors such as size, construction, locking mechanism, fire resistance, and accessibility. Evaluate your storage requirements and consult with experts or read reviews to make an informed decision.
Yes, it is crucial to store ammunition separately from firearms. Keeping them in different locked containers or compartments ensures that firearms and ammunition are not accessible to unauthorized individuals, reducing the risk of accidents or misuse.
A trigger lock is a device that blocks the trigger mechanism of a firearm, preventing it from being pulled. This is one simple option that may reduce accidental discharges.
Colorado law states that firearms must be responsibly and securely stored when they are not in use to prevent access by unsupervised juveniles and other unauthorized users (Learn more at C.R.S. 18-12-114).
Local jurisdictions may add to gun storage regulations. It is important to familiarize yourself with local regulations to ensure compliance. Contact local authorities or consult legal resources for specific information applicable to your area. Check out the Colorado Gun Storage Map to find a local business or law enforcement agency that provides options for temporary, voluntary firearm storage.
In Colorado, an individual who owns a firearm must report the loss or theft of that firearm to a law enforcement agency within five days after discovering that the firearm was lost or stolen.
Another person who is a member of the owner’s family or who resides with the owner may report the lost or stolen firearm. Learn more about reporting requirements for lost or stolen firearms.
The minimum age to purchase any firearm in Colorado is 21. Young adults serving in the military and as law enforcement are exempt. Learn more about minimum age requirements in Colorado.
Colorado House Bill 23-1219 created a new state law, CRS § 18-12-115, implementing a mandatory 3-day waiting period for new gun purchases in Colorado.
One study estimates that mandatory waiting periods to receive firearms led to a 7 to 11 percent reduction in suicides by firearm; the study also suggests that delaying the purchase of firearms by a few days reduces firearm homicides by approximately 17 percent.
Colorado prohibits the possession, sale, or transfer of large-capacity magazines. Learn more about what constitutes a “large-capacity magazine” in Colorado within CRS § 18-12-301.
Two Colorado statutes concern firearms in vehicles:
Title 18: Colorado allows a person to carry a firearm in a vehicle if its use is for lawful protection of such person or another’s person or property. [C.R.S. § 18-12-105(2)] Colorado law also allows a person to possess a handgun in a dwelling, place of business, or automobile. However, when you carry the weapon into your home, business, hotel room, etc. it must be in plain view. Local jurisdictions may not enact laws that restrict a person’s ability to travel with a weapon. [C.R.S. § 18-12-105.6] The Act permits the nationwide carrying of concealed handguns by qualified current and retired law enforcement officers and amends the Gun Control Act of 1968 (Pub. L. 90-618, 82 Stat. 1213) to exempt qualified current and retired law enforcement officers from state and local laws prohibiting the carry of concealed firearms.
Title 33: In accordance with Colorado wildlife laws, including C.R.S. § 33-6-125, you may carry a weapon in your vehicle. However it is unlawful for any person, except a person authorized by law or by the division, to possess or have under his control any firearm, other than a pistol or revolver, in or on any motor vehicle unless the chamber of such firearm is unloaded. A “muzzle-loader” shall be considered unloaded if it is not primed, and, for such purpose, “primed” means having a percussion cap on the nipple or flint in the striker and powder in the flash pan.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation houses a list of Colorado firearm legislation, rules and statutes that apply when residing in or visiting the state.
To prevent unauthorized access, store firearms in a locked container or gun safe. Restrict access to keys or combinations, and consider using additional security measures like alarm systems. Educating family members about responsible gun storage is also crucial.
Firearms should not be stored in hidden locations within your home. Instead, use a secure gun safe or locking device specifically designed for firearms. Storing firearms in hidden places may increase the risk of accidental discovery, loss, or unauthorized access.
It is important to conduct regular safety checks on your gun safe and stored firearms. Check for signs of damage, ensure the locking mechanism is functioning correctly, and inspect firearms for proper storage conditions. The frequency of these checks may vary, but aim to do them at least once every few months.
Safe storage refers to storing firearms and ammunition in a manner that minimizes the risk of unauthorized or accidental access to those items, particularly by children.
Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Shooting Sports Foundation recommend that guns be stored locked and unloaded and that ammunition be stored in a different locked location.
Whether you’re traveling out of state and want extra peace of mind that your firearms are secure, have a teen at home in crisis and at risk for suicide, or your home is on the market and want to make sure that your firearms are secure while showings occur, you can utilize the Colorado Gun Storage Map to find a local business or law enforcement agency that provides options for temporary, voluntary firearm storage.
Safe storage practices help prevent unauthorized access to firearms, which has implications for three particular aspects of gun violence and gun crime:
1) access to guns by children and teens,
2) gun theft, and
3) gun-related suicide.
Law enforcement, family/household members, medical professionals, educators, and district attorneys.
Call Colorado’s 24/7 Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) Hotline at 855-999-3776 (ERPO) to get more information on the process to file for an order, as well as direction to relevant resources.
The hotline will not provide legal advice or serve as an avenue for an individual to file a petition for a temporary order. The hotline will not advise callers on the consequences related to the filing or false filing of a petition for a temporary Extreme Risk Protection Order.
The hotline may refer callers to the appropriate venue to file the order for further information concerning the results of filing the order.
These laws are in place to save lives. Like any law, there may be the occasional attempt of misuse but that’s why a judge carefully considers the evidence of each case, including:
– A recent act or credible threat of violence by the respondent against self or others, whether or not such violence or credible threat of violence involves a firearm
– A pattern of acts or credible threats of violence by the respondent within the past year
– A violation of a civil protection order
– A previous or existing ERPO issued against the respondent and a violation of a previous or existing ERPO
– A conviction of domestic violence
– Ownership, access to, or intent to possess a firearm
– A credible threat of or the unlawful or reckless use of a firearm by the respondent
– The history of use, attempted use, or threatened use of unlawful physical force against another person, or a history of stalking
– Any prior arrest of the respondent for a crime, including cruelty to animals
– Recent or ongoing substance or alcohol use disorder
– Whether the respondent is required to possess, carry, or use a firearm as a condition of the respondent’s current employment
– Evidence of recent acquisition of a firearm or ammunition by the respondent