1. Colorado Has 33 Reciprocal States
Colorado has
concealed carry reciprocity with 33 other states. This means if you have a current and valid CHP (concealed handgun permit) from Colorado, you can lawfully carry a concealed handgun in the other 33 states.
Likewise, if you have a current and valid CHP from one of these 33 states, you may lawfully carry a concealed handgun in Colorado.
Colorado’s 33 reciprocal states are:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Therefore, Colorado does
not recognize state permits from California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, and Washington.
Having a Colorado permit does
not allow you to carry concealed firearms in non-reciprocal states and D.C. Conversely, having a permit from a non-reciprocal state does
not allow you to carry concealed in Colorado.
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2. You Must Meet Criteria to Conceal Carry in Colorado
If you have a permit from one of Colorado’s 33 states, you can carry concealed in Colorado if all of the following are true:
- You are at least 21 years of age;
- You are in physical possession of the concealed carry permit (often called a CCW permit, for carrying a concealed weapon);
- You are a resident of the issuing state;
- You have a state driver’s license (or state ID) showing that you are a resident of the state which issued the permit;
- Your permit is current and valid in the issuing state; and
- The issuing state recognizes and honors Colorado CHP permits.
A weapon is considered concealed on your person if it is completely out of sight. An example is being hidden under a jacket or in a purse.
Only partially concealed weapons – such as a gun in a holster – are not considered concealed, and you would not need a CHP.
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3. Carrying Concealed Without a CHP Is a Crime
Carrying a hidden firearm without a current and valid concealed carry permit is a
class 1 misdemeanor in Colorado. The sentence is:
- Up to 364 days in jail, and/or
- A fine of up to $1,000.
A second or subsequent offense of carrying concealed without a valid permit – within five years of the prior offense – is a
class 5 felony. The punishment is:
- 1 to 3 years in Colorado State Prison (with 2 years mandatory parole), and/or
- A fine of $1,000 to $100,000.3
In addition, if you are convicted of a
felony, you lose your right to possess firearms at all under state and federal law.
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Defenses
Here at Colorado Legal Defense Group, I have represented literally thousands of people charged with weapons crimes, including carrying concealed without a permit. In my experience, the following defenses have proven very effective with judges, juries, and prosecutors at getting these charges reduced or dismissed.
- You were on your own property at the time, and the purpose of the weapon was for self-defense.
- You were in a private motor vehicle, and the weapon was for protection while traveling.
- You did not knowingly possess the weapon (perhaps it was planted on you).
- You were openly carrying the gun, not carrying it concealed. (Learn about Colorado’s open carry gun laws.)
- You were a permit holder complying with all of the Colorado concealed carry rules, and the police officer made a mistake.
- The police entrapped you.
- The police coerced a confession.
- Law enforcement found the weapon through an illegal search.
Additional Reading
For more in-depth information, refer to these scholarly articles:
Legal References
