Resources
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CCW Information by County
Concealed Handgun Carry Permit Information by County
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Colorado Gun Laws
The following are some notes about Colorado gun laws for Chapter area gun owners. This does not constitute legal advice and you are encouraged to contact an attorney if you have legal questions or concerns regarding Colorado gun laws.
Colo. Rev. Stat. §18-12-102 prohibits silencers, but provides that a "valid permit and license for possession" of a silencer is an affirmative defense.
Colo. Rev. Stat.§ 18-12-112 requires a background check on all private sales of firearms.
(As of 2022) Colorado does not require a permit to purchase a firearm and firearms do not have to be registered.
While open carry is legal in parts of Colorado, certain localities, including the City and County of Denver, have passed ordinances restricting or prohibiting open carry. In addition, Denver and Boulder (as of 2022) have passed laws restricting "assault weapons" with differing definitions.
Below are some Denver Specific ordinances:
Sec. 38-116. - Defined terms.
As used in this article, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
- (1) Assault weapon means any of the following firearms:
- a. Any semiautomatic pistol or centerfire rifle, either of which have a fixed or detachable magazine with a capacity of more than fifteen (15) rounds.
- b. Any semiautomatic shotgun with a folding stock or a magazine capacity of more than six (6) rounds or both.
- c. Any part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert a firearm into a weapon identified in paragraphs a or b of this subsection (1), if those parts are in the possession or under the control of the same person.
- d. Any firearm which has been modified to be operable as a weapon identified in paragraphs a or b of this subsection (1).
- e. Assault weapon does NOT include any of the following: firearms that do not use fixed cartridges; firearms that were in production prior to 1898; manually operated bolt-action, lever action, and pump-action firearms; single-shot weapons; multiple-barrel weapons; revolvers; semiautomatic weapons for which there is a fixed magazine with capacity of less than fifteen (15) rounds available and which cannot accept a detachable magazine; semiautomatic weapons that use exclusively en bloc clips; semiautomatic weapons in production prior to 1954; rimfire weapons that employ a tubular magazine; firearms that use .22 caliber rimfire ammunition; or any assault weapon which has been modified either to render it permanently inoperable or to permanently make it a device no longer defined as an assault weapon.
Sec. 38-118. - Unlawful carrying of weapons.
- (a) Unlawful concealed carry of weapons. Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to wear, carry, or transport any weapon concealed on or about their person.
- (b) Unlawful open carry of weapons. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to openly wear, carry, or transport any weapon on or about their person or vehicle.
- (c) Exceptions. It shall not be an offense under either subsection (a) or subsection (b) of this section if, at the time of carrying, the person is abiding by all other federal, state, and local laws and is:
- (1) A law enforcement officer;
- (2) An active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces, while engaged in the performance of their duties;
- (3) Acting with valid authorization from the city;
- (4) In their own dwelling, place of business, or on property owned or under their control; or
- (5) Transporting the weapon while travelling within a private automobile or other private means of conveyance for the purposes of hunting or the lawful protection of such person or their property, or another person or that person's property. Except for pistols and revolvers, any firearm being transported must be unloaded during such transport.
- (d) Exception for concealed carry permit holders. It shall not be an offense under subsection (a) of this section if at the time of carrying a handgun, the person holds a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun and the person is carrying the handgun in conformance with any applicable federal, state, or local law, including, but not limited to, the valid issuance of a firearms endorsement on a person's security guard license.
[Excerpt from:] Sec. 38-121. - Assault weapons.
- (c) Possession of assault weapons unlawful. It shall be unlawful to carry, store, keep, manufacture, sell, or otherwise possess assault weapons within the City and County of Denver
More information can be found at the following:
- (1) Assault weapon means any of the following firearms:
