Colorado State Gun Laws Explained

According to the Colorado State law, residents aged 18 or older can possess or own unless prohibited from doing so. There is a long list of categories of people who shouldn’t possess or own firearms. Therefore, you must know these categories before you use a firearm. These categories include:

• Fugitives from justice
• People who are subject to a protective order that bars them from possessing a gun
• Addicted to or unlawful use of a controlled substance
• You are illegally living in the United States
• You’ve been adjudicated as someone who is mentally defective
• You are admitted in the country under a non-immigrant visa
• You renounced your United States citizenship
• You got discharged from the U.S. armed forces under dishonorable circumstances

Additionally, you shouldn’t carry a firearm if, under the United States or federal law, you’ve been convicted of or are under indictment for the following;

• Any crime that is punishable by imprisonment for a period exceeding 12 months
•  Felony
•  Attempt to commit a felony crime
•  A misdemeanor crime related to domestic violence
•  Any action that constitutes a felony under the Colorado State laws

Keep in mind that many residents can’t openly carry a firearm if they come from a state that doesn’t have firearm reciprocity with Colorado State. The ‘red flag’ law permits law enforcement or family members to request a judge to confiscate temporarily guns of people deemed to be erased to themselves or others. These are commonly known as extreme risk protection orders.

Consequences of unlawful firearm possession

Possession of a gun by a felon is a felony crime. Depending on the specific crime you were previously convicted of, and the time the conviction occurred, the consequences of a felon owning a firearm in Colorado can run as high as 6 years in prison and hefty fines of up to $500,000.

Additionally, depending on the specific circumstances of the crime, unlawful possession of a firearm in Colorado may be considered a misdemeanor, and the punishment could be one to three years in prison or a fine that ranges from $1000 to $100,000.

What firearms are legal in Colorado?

Here are the specific guns that are legal in Colorado.

• Full-length rifles
• Pistols, handguns, or other firearms that have a barrel more than 12 inches in length
• Full-length shotguns
• Firearms that are defined as or Relics and the United States law
• Antique guns manufactured not later than 1898

Colorado residents who are permitted to possess guns can openly carry the weapons listed while in the state as long as they are in a location that permits firearms.

Not all guns are legal in Colorado. Any firearm or firearm accessory classified under state law or federal law as a dangerous weapon is illegal. Some of these firearms include firearm silencers, armor-piercing ammunition, machine guns, and short shotguns with a barrel less than 18 inches and an overall length of less than 26 inches. Any defaced firearm or large-capacity ammunition magazines are illegal in Colorado.

Some local governments have also banned assault weapons like Boulder and Vail. However, pre-emption renders these local government laws unenforceable, but Denver’s assault weapon ban is valid.

As mentioned earlier, the consequences of being convicted of unlawful possession of firearms can significantly impact your current and future life. For instance, you could face up to six years in prison, and this record will go straight to your criminal record. In addition to disrupting your current career life, a stained criminal record can make it hard for you to get a good job in the future. This is why you should consult with an experienced attorney if you are charged with unlawful possession of guns.