Legal Resources*
Here you will find information on:
Click the link of interest above, or scroll down to read it
all.
Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit Information
- Colorado is a "Shall Issue" state. That means,
in simplified terms, that
unless there is a reason not to issue a permit, the local
sheriff 'shall issue' a permit.
- Permits are administered by the county sheriff's office.
A listing of Colorado Sheriff's offices can be found
here. If you live in Summit County Colorado, you can
visit the
Summit County Sheriff's site for concealed
handgun
permits.
- If you do not live in Summit County, please see the
County Sheriffs of Colorado website for more
information on obtaining your Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit,
or visit the sheriff's website for the county in which you
reside.
- In Colorado, you are not required to inform an officer that you are
carrying during a traffic stop - but it may be advisable
to do so anyway (law enforcement officers are not big on
surprises).
- Laws relating specifically to concealed carry in Colorado can be
found
at
C.R.S. 18-12-201
(click on each individual section title to view).
HandgunLaw.us provides a well organized,
map-based guide to the reciprocity and handgun laws around the United
States - including Colorado-specific information.
This site is for reference only and you are responsible
for staying notified of any late-breaking changes to firearms laws.
Maintained by Sportsman's Warehouse, this page offers information on state registries, stand you ground laws, and firearm related laws all broken down by state.
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Other Firearms Law Resources
Federal Law Information
-
Interstate Transportation of Firearms:
This is a link to the Cornell University Law School citation of
U.S.
Code Title 18, Part 1, Chapter 44, § 926A regarding
transporting a firearm in states where you do not have a
concealed handgun permit. A complete listing of Federal
Firearms Laws can be found at the
NRA-ILA.
The Bottom Line: If you
are transporting a handgun through a state in which you do
not have a recognized concealed handgun permit, keep the
unloaded handgun locked in a box locked in the trunk, and then
keep the ammunition
locked separately in the trunk...and that may still not be
sufficient to comply with all state and local laws! Read up
and know the laws where you are traveling.
- NRA-ILA Gun Law Summary (1.6 MB PDF): Comprehensive
listing of gun laws by state. Note: This document may not be
current with recently passed legislation.
-
2008 Heller Opinion (SCOTUS): The 2nd
Amendment applies to Washington DC residents.
-
2010 McDonald Opinion (SCOTUS): The 2nd
Amendment applies to the states.
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Colorado-Specific Information
These documents and links provide the key information
regarding Colorado's current concealed carry and firearms laws.
-
Colorado Firearm Law Summary: From the NRA-ILA. Very informative. This page is not always up to date, so please double-check other resources.
- Colorado's Firearms Laws: C.R.S.
Title 18; Article 12 (Part 2 relates to concealed carry).
Use the table of contents link at the top of the opened
page. Please be aware that this linked site can be very,
very slow and unresponsive. Patience is required!
-
Colorado State Patrol: Summary information on
Colorado gun laws, firearms in vehicles, and traveling
through Colorado's National Forests and National Parks.
-
2003 Salazar Opinion: The University of
Colorado (CU) has a right to make its own concealed carry
policies despite Colorado Law. Mr. Salazar's opinion was
later determined to be wrong by the Colorado Supreme Court. Please see below.
-
2012 Colorado Supreme Court Ruling:
In a
unanimous decision, the
Colorado Supreme Court has held lower court rulings to be
accurate: The University of Colorado does not have the
unilateral authority to make their own laws with regards to
concealed carry in Colorado. Lawful concealed carry on
Colorado campuses accepting public funding is now clearly legal. Please
remember, with every right comes a responsibility. Please
obtain the proper training
to go with your Colorado permit!
-
2013 CO Law Changes: Here is an
NRA-ILA summary of the new gun laws passed in Colorado to
date.
This document provides a lay person's summary of the
changes and how they might affect your everyday life. Please
return to this page frequently as more changes may be
coming.
-
"Stand Your Ground" and "Duty to Retreat" in
Colorado: You may have heard these terms on the news. What do these terms mean in Colorado? Please
see the annotations at the bottom of
this statute's listing
(click the table of contents link) for a detailed analysis
and how the physical force in defense of a person laws are
actually written. Selected annotations from
C.R.S. §18-1-704 are provided below:
Doctrine of retreat is from common
law. There is no statutory provision regarding the duty of a
person to retreat before countering the use of force with force.
The doctrine derives from the common law. People v. Watson, 671
P.2d 973 (Colo. App. 1983).
The defendant, if he did not provoke
the assault, is not obliged to retreat or flee to save his life,
but may stand his ground, and even, in some circumstances,
pursue his assailant until the latter has been disarmed or
disabled from carrying into effect his unlawful purpose, and
this right of the defendant goes even to the extent, if
necessary, of taking human life. Boykin v. People, 22 Colo. 496,
45 P. 419 (1896); Enyart v. People, 67 Colo. 434, 180 P. 722
(1919).
The right of self-defense is a natural
right and is based on the natural law of self-preservation.
Vigil v. People, 143 Colo. 328, 353 P.2d 82 (1960).
*Obligatory Disclaimer
Please consult with your attorney with any specific questions
on laws applying to concealed carry, personal defense, and
firearms. It is
your responsibility to know and understand the laws that apply
to you when you are carrying a concealed handgun. Nothing on
this page shall be construed as legal advice and is provided
without any statement of accuracy or reliability. Please see
this site's Terms of Use for more
information.
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