Do you have to register guns in Colorado? A Lawyer Explains

You do not need to register your firearms in Colorado. In fact, Colorado gun laws prohibit police departments and local governments from keeping records of people who buy or exchange firearms. The full text of the relevant statute CRS 29-11.7-102 reads:

(1) A local government, including a law enforcement agency, shall not maintain a list or other form of record or database of: (a) Persons who purchase or exchange firearms or who leave firearms for repair or sale on consignment; (b) Persons who transfer firearms, unless the persons are federally licensed firearms dealers; (c) The descriptions, including serial numbers, of firearms purchased, transferred, exchanged, or left for repair or sale on consignment.¹

How old do I need to be to buy a gun?

To buy a handgun in Colorado, you must be:

• At least 21 years old as well as
• A Colorado resident.

To buy a long gun, you must be at least 18 years old (but you do not have to be a Colorado resident).²

Do I need to pass a background check before I buy a gun?

Yes. In Colorado, you need to pass a Colorado Bureau of Investigations (C.B.I.) background check to purchase guns either through a commercial sale or a private gun sale. First, you would need to fill out an A.T.F. Form 4473. The form asks whether you:

• Are a convicted felon or under indictment for a felony;
• Have been convicted of domestic violence;
• Are subject to a protective order restraining you from stalking, harassing, or threatening an intimate partner or child;
• Are a fugitive;
• Are an illegal alien or have renounced U.S. citizenship;
• Have been dishonorably discharged from the military;
• Are a drug addict or user (including of marijuana); or
• Have been adjudicated a mental defective or committed to a mental institution.

If you answer no to all of these, then the licensed firearm dealer will run a C.B.I. InstaCheck. Your purchase will usually be approved or denied within about 20 minutes. Though there is a three-day waiting period before the gun can be transferred. Note that it is a class 4 felony in Colorado to buy or obtain a gun for someone else that you know is prohibited from possessing guns. Penalties for unlawful purchase of a firearm include:

• 2 to 6 years in prison and/or
• A fine of $2,000 to $500,000.³

See our related articles, What are the requirements for buying a handgun in Colorado?, How can I restore my gun rights after a Colorado criminal conviction?, and Possession of a Weapon by a Previous Offender (POWPO).

Do I need a permit to carry concealed firearms?

Yes. You need a current and valid CHP (concealed handgun permit) to carry concealed handguns in Colorado. You can apply for a CHP permit (also called a CCW permit) from your local county sheriff if:

• You are at least 21 years old;
• You are a Colorado resident or an armed forces member (or immediate family thereof) permanently stationed in Colorado;
• You are otherwise eligible to possess firearms;
• No protective order is taken out against you;
• You have never been convicted of perjury for lying on a CHP application;
• You are not addicted to drugs or alcohol; and
• You completed a handgun training class by a certified instructor in the prior 10 years.

Carrying concealed without a CHP is a class 1 misdemeanor in Colorado, punishable by:

• Up to 364 days in jail and/or
• A fine of up to $1,000.

However, a second or subsequent offense within five years is a class 5 felony, punishable by:

• 1 to 3 years in prison (with 2 years mandatory parole) and/or
• A fine of $1,000 to $100,000.

Note that simply forgetting to carry your CHP permit while you are conceal-carrying a gun is a petty offense, carrying:

• Up to 10 days in jail and/or
• A fine of up to $300.⁴

See our related articles, open carry in Colorado, How old do you have to be to open carry in Colorado?, Colorado CCW Renewal – How to Do It, and Colorado concealed carry reciprocity – 3 things to know.

Additional Resources

For more information, refer to these recent news articles:

• Colorado wants to hire lawyers to prosecute gun crimes in federal court, some of which are no longer illegal under state law – The Colorado Sun.
• Judge blocks Colorado law raising age to purchase a gun to 21 – PBS News Hour.
• Gun owners and conservative groups file lawsuit against Colorado’s new ghost-gun law – The Denver Post.
• Gun rights advocates have lost Colorado’s elections — but they may win the legal war – CPR News.
• Colorado’s grade on gun control improves to A minus, says Giffords center – Colorado Politics.

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Legal References