Colorado’s Department of Revenue (yeah you read that right) published the official guidance document for SB25-003 today, naming the specific firearms that fall under the new “Specified Semiautomatic Firearms” (SSF) category. That’s the awkward bureaucratic label the state landed on to avoid the politically loaded “assault weapon” framing. Functionally, it’s the same thing.

An AI generated image that communicates how I feel about this law.

I already wrote at length about why this law is an infringement on the rights of law-abiding Coloradans when Governor Polis signed it. You can read that breakdown here. Short version: SB003 doesn’t ban anything outright, but it builds a permitting maze around the most popular sporting rifle in America and calls it “safety.”

What’s new is that we now know exactly what’s on the list, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife has released the customer-facing roadmap for how this is going to work in practice. Let’s go through both.

What’s on the SSF List

The state’s guidance document runs 152 pages and breaks into three categories: semiautomatic rifles with detachable magazines, semiautomatic shotguns with detachable magazines, and gas-operated semiautomatic pistols with detachable magazines.

If you’ve been paying attention, you can probably guess what dominates the list. The rifle section is roughly 90 pages of AR-pattern rifles — AR-15, AR-10, and AR-308 variants from just about every manufacturer that has ever stamped a lower. Add AK-pattern rifles, Beowulfs, Grendels, .22 LR variants built on AR platforms, pistol-caliber carbines on AR lowers, and any other Modern Sporting Rifle configuration you can think of. The state’s own document specifically calls out the AR platform as the target.

The shotgun section is shorter and catches a narrow category — detachable-magazine semiautos. Saiga-pattern shotguns, MKA 1919, BP-12 series, AR-style box-magazine shotguns, bullpup shotguns. Your Mossberg 500, Remington 870, Beretta 1301, Benelli M4, and every other traditional tube-fed pump or semiauto shotgun is not on this list.

The pistol section is the one most people will misread. It only catches gas-operated semiautomatic pistols with detachable magazines. That’s not your Glock, your Sig P320, your M&P, your CZ, or your 1911 — none of which are gas-operated. What it catches are AR and AK pistols (essentially short-barreled or pistol-braced AR/AK platforms) and a few specialty platforms like the B&T APC pistol family.

The practical takeaway: if it’s an AR or AK pattern — rifle, pistol, or shotgun configuration — assume it’s on the list. Bolt-action rifles, lever guns, traditional shotguns, and conventional handguns are not.

Two caveats worth flagging. First, the document is marked DRAFT and the state has said the list will be reviewed and updated before August 1st when the law goes into effect and again regularly after the law goes into effect. Translation: more models can be added later, including newly released firearms that meet the functional criteria. Don’t assume the list is static. Second, the law itself includes exemptions under 18-12-116(1)(d)(II) for rifles that don’t meet the functional definition — meaning featureless configurations and a small set of specifically exempt models can still be purchased outside the SSF process. The details are technical and the state’s own guidance is the place to confirm any specific build.

One more thing worth saying out loud: this law restricts purchase, not possession. If you already own an AR, an AK, or anything else on this list, nothing about your ownership changes on August 1st. The law looks forward.

How the Process Actually Works

CPW has published a step-by-step walkthrough of what a consumer has to do to legally purchase an SSF after August 1st. The whole system is built around a new state-run database that ties together four parties: the consumer, certified instructors, county sheriffs, and federal firearms licensees.

Here’s the flow:

1. Create a profile on the new CPW Firearm Safety System website. The system checks whether you already have a hunter safety certification on file with Colorado.
2. Visit your county sheriff’s office with your application, a valid state ID, and a completed background check. There’s a fee at this stage.
3. Eligibility card. If you pass the background check, the sheriff issues you an eligibility card authorizing you to take the required training.
4. Take the training. The course comes in two flavors. If you already have a Colorado hunter safety certification, you take the 4-hour Basic course. If you don’t, you take the 12-hour Extended course. Both must be taught by a state-verified, state-certified firearm safety instructor.
5. Pass the course. Your instructor enters your test results into the state database.
6. Go to your FFL. The retailer verifies your eligibility in the database, runs the standard CBI Instacheck, observes the mandatory 3-day holding period, and — if everything clears — you walk out with your SSF.

Your eligibility is good for five years. After that, the whole process resets and you start over.

One detail in the CPW guidance that isn’t fully clear yet: the customer journey assumes you walk into the sheriff’s office with a completed background check already in hand — but the materials don’t actually specify where you’re supposed to get that background check done first. Given that sheriff’s offices already run background checks for a whole list of other state licenses and permits, the most likely answer is that the background check ends up happening at the sheriff’s office anyway, as part of the same visit. But as of right now, that’s an inference, not an instruction. Expect this to get clarified before August 1st — or, more realistically, in the first few weeks after, once early applicants run into it.

A Few Things Worth Knowing

The Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit program has zero overlap with this. If you already hold a Colorado CCW, that doesn’t count for anything under SB003. The instructor certification for SSF safety courses is a completely separate state credential from the CCW instructor system. None of this changes how the CCW program works, and none of your CCW privileges transfer over. Two different programs, two different state divisions, no crosswalk.

The 5-year reset matters for planning. If you go through the process now and don’t make any SSF purchases for a few years, the clock keeps running. Budget for redoing the whole stack in 2031 if you want to keep your eligibility live.

What About Legal Challenges?

First, a clarification, because the headlines have been busy. The U.S. Department of Justice recently filed back-to-back federal lawsuits against the City of Denver and the State of Colorado over gun/magazine bans — and those filings have nothing to do with SB003. Different statutes, different ordinances, different legal theories. We covered the DOJ suits in detail here if you want the breakdown. Don’t conflate the two stories.

As for SB003 specifically: there will be lawsuits. Second Amendment legal organizations have been telegraphing action since Polis signed the bill, and I’d expect filings to ramp up between now and August.

Here’s the honest read, though: none of it is going to stop August 1st. Litigation moves slowly. Preliminary injunctions on Second Amendment challenges are hard to win, particularly in the Tenth Circuit, and Colorado courts have not been friendly venues for gun-rights plaintiffs in recent years. The legal fight matters for the long game. It does not change the calendar.

The Practical Takeaway

If you’ve been thinking about adding a carbine to the safe — an AR, an AK, an MSR of any flavor — buy it before August 1st. After August 1st, you can still buy one, but you’ll do it through the eligibility card, the training course, the sheriff’s office visit, the database, and the rest of the bureaucratic stack the state is building.

If you already own one, nothing changes for you.

If you want to be able to make SSF purchases after August 1st, start the process early. Pull your hunter safety records if you have them, schedule your sheriff visit, and get an eligibility card on file. The first few months are going to be a mess — instructor availability, sheriff capacity, database glitches — and being on the early side of that wave will matter.

I’ll keep updating this article as more details come out. Today is the first day we have the actual list, and that alone changes the conversation.

The post Colorado SB003 Update: The SSF List Drops Ahead of Aug 1 first appeared on Colorado Concealed Carry.

Signed into law by Governor Jared Polis in April 2023, SB23-169 prohibits licensed dealers and private sellers from transferring any firearm to someone aged 18–20. The law includes narrow exceptions for active-duty military personnel and certain law enforcement officers. It officially took effect in August 2023, but had been temporarily paused due to a legal challenge brought by Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO).

A Fight Years in the Making

When the law was signed, RMGO immediately filed a lawsuit, asserting the age restriction violated the Second Amendment. A U.S. District Court initially agreed, issuing a preliminary injunction halting the law from taking effect. But that ruling was overturned by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in late 2024, allowing enforcement to proceed while the underlying case continued.

Now, Judge Philip Brimmer—who originally granted the injunction—has reversed course. In his latest ruling, Brimmer sided with the state, concluding that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate that the age-based restriction on firearm sales violated their constitutional rights. He cited the Tenth Circuit’s finding that such restrictions are “presumptively lawful” under historical tradition and consistent with longstanding limitations on commercial firearm transactions.

Judge Brimmer – Image Courtesy of USCourts.gov

This of course, is all unrelated to the new law passed this year that prohibits the purchase of ammunition by anyone under the age of 21 as well.

Implications for Young Adults

This ruling leaves a class of law-abiding legal adults without access to a core constitutional right. In response to the decision, RMGO called it “disgraceful” and vowed to consider further appeals. For now, however, the law remains in full effect, cementing Colorado as one of several states to raise the minimum firearm purchase age to 21, going beyond federal law that already restricts handgun purchases by age.

This isn’t the first time lawmakers have used age as a regulatory lever to curb access to firearms, and Colorado’s move is part of a broader national trend. But the questions remain: When are you considered responsible enough to vote, marry, or serve in the military, but not trusted to exercise your right to self-defense?

We’ve previously explored this issue in-depth. For more background and national context, read our feature: “Legal Adults, Limited Rights: The Second Amendment Fight for 18–20-Year-Olds”.

Looking Ahead

The outcome of this case may eventually find its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, especially as conflicting rulings on similar laws emerge in other circuits. Until then, young adults in Colorado remain second-class citizens when it comes to their right to keep and bear arms.

The post Federal Judge Upholds Colorado Law Barring Gun Sales to Adults Under 21 first appeared on Colorado Concealed Carry.

The CO House where your rights are being taken away

What the New Law Does—And Why It’s a Problem

HB25-1133 imposes unnecessary hurdles on the purchase and delivery of ammunition in Colorado, including:

• Raising the minimum age to buy ammo to 21
  • With narrow exceptions for military service, those who have completed hunter education, or on-site shooting range use
  • Anyone under 21—even trained, responsible adults—will now face restrictions based solely on age, not behavior
• Forcing retailers to lock up all ammunition
  • Stores must place ammo behind the counter or in locked displays, treating it like contraband
• Burdening online ammo sales with red tape
  • Sellers must notify carriers of ammo shipments
  • No external markings can identify the package
  • Delivery drivers must verify the recipient’s age and collect a written acknowledgment

If you break one of these new rules? You’ll face civil penalties that can escalate to a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Read the bill text here

The Real Agenda: More Gun Control, Less Freedom

This bill is not about crime prevention—it’s about control. It’s another step in the relentless campaign by Colorado lawmakers to chip away at the rights of gun owners under the guise of “safety.” There’s no data that shows 20-year-olds buying ammo are a public threat. In fact, violent crime is overwhelmingly committed by individuals who are already prohibited from possessing firearms in the first place.

Criminals don’t buy their ammunition from legal sources and wait patiently for FedEx to check their ID at the door. This law won’t stop them. It will, however, create more friction, regulation, and cost for those who follow the law.

Political Theater and Legal Trouble Ahead

This bill passed mostly along party lines, though a few brave Democrats joined Republicans in opposing it—recognizing how out of touch it is with rural Colorado and sportsmen across the state.

Supporters claim it simply “aligns ammunition and firearm laws.” But in reality, this is just one more obstacle in the state’s escalating war on gun rights. And it’s not likely to stand unchallenged.

Recent court decisions—including one from the Eighth Circuit striking down age-based bans—suggest that HB25-1133 could be overturned as unconstitutional. It clearly conflicts with the principles laid out in Bruen and other landmark rulings affirming the right to keep and bear arms.

More of the Same From Anti-Gun Legislators

This isn’t the only attack on Colorado gun owners this year. We’ve been tracking multiple proposals aimed at restricting firearm rights. For more context on the broader anti-gun agenda in Colorado, see our earlier coverage:
April 1st Update on Colorado Gun Law Changes and Proposals

Conclusion: This Won’t Stop Violence. It Will Stop Freedom.

HB25-1133 won’t save lives. It will punish 20-year-old women who want to buy a box of ammo for their rifle. It will trip up online retailers with pointless paperwork. It will waste law enforcement resources checking delivery receipts instead of tracking down real threats.

Gun control advocates might celebrate this as a win—but for Colorado gun owners, it’s another reminder that we must stay vigilant, informed, and ready to fight back in court and at the ballot box.

Stay tuned to ConcealedCarry.com for ongoing updates on this and other anti-gun laws working their way through the system.

The post New Colorado Ammo Law Raises Minimum Age and Imposes Delivery Restrictions first appeared on Colorado Concealed Carry.

Key Provisions of the Law

Effective August 1, 2026, individuals seeking to purchase specified semi-automatic firearms with detachable magazines must:

• Obtain a permit (firearms safety course eligibility card) through their local sheriff’s office. (Basically Firearm Owner Registration)
• Complete a state-approved firearms safety course certified by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. (This is going to be… interesting)
• Undergo two background checks.

The law also prohibits the sale and possession of rapid-fire conversion devices, such as bump stocks and binary triggers, which can increase the firing rate of semi-automatic weapons.

What Guns Are Banned Require the Illegal Registration Permit?

Well, listing everything would make this article overly long and confusing. The short answer is, all traditional carbines like AR or AK pattern rifles (or AR pattern pistols) are included in the ban new regulation.

It also requires a permit for gas-operated semiautomatic handguns with a detachable magazine. This is where it gets complicated. The law specifically excludes “recoil-operated handguns” but what counts as a recoil-operated vs gas-operated.

When the bill was being debated the law makers in favor of the bill claimed it would not include common and popular semi-automatic handguns and on the surface that is perhaps true. After all most of the standard handguns we are accustomed to today (e.g., Glock, 1911) are operated by recoil but what do you think causes the recoil? Gas.

So while most of us including me would like to believe that those law makers didn’t mean to wrap up common handguns into this regulation the text of the law leaves open the option to include those handguns for sure. Before the law goes into effect we would expect some clarity from the Attorney General / Governor’s office to clarify what will be included.

The law also lists a long number of very specific makes and models of firearms as being excluded from this law. Make no mistake, the intent is to ban (or at least make very difficult and expensive to obtain) AR-15 style rifles… and maybe all handguns too.

Governor’s Statement

Governor Polis stated that the law is not a ban on firearms but a measure to ensure that gun owners are properly trained and educated. He expressed confidence that the law would contribute to making Colorado one of the safest states in the country by promoting responsible gun ownership.

That may very well be what he actually believes… who am I to say otherwise but what his statement doesn’t say out loud is that this law is a back door way of creating a government controlled list of gun owners (at least those who care about owning one of these otherwise banned guns) and making it far more expensive and difficult to own the most common sporting rifles in America.

Legal Challenges on the Horizon

With the passage of Senate Bill 25-003, legal action is almost certain. Pro-Second Amendment organizations such as Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO) and the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR) have already voiced strong opposition to the measure, calling it a clear infringement on constitutionally protected rights.

I predict that lawsuits challenging the law’s constitutionality could be filed within weeks, potentially seeking injunctions to delay or block the law’s implementation ahead of its August 2026 effective date.

Grandfather Clause?

This law only prohibits “knowingly manufacturing, distributing, transferring, selling, or purchasing” any of the naughty guns without the permit. There is nothing in there about possession or ownership. So much like the current law about “high-capacity” magazines, this law is going to be difficult to impossible to enforce and isn’t likely to see wide compliance in my opinion.

The post Polis Signs Controversial Gun Control Bill—A Blow to Law-Abiding Citizens first appeared on Colorado Concealed Carry.

I’m including below the news release from their website. This is the original source: https://saf.org/saf-files-lawsuit-challenging-colorados-excise-tax-on-guns-ammo/

BELLEVUE, WA – April 1, 2025 – The Second Amendment Foundation has filed a lawsuit in Denver County District Court challenging Colorado’s Proposition KK as an unconstitutional tax on the exercise of a fundamental constitutional right.

Joining SAF in Langston v. Humphreys are the National Rifle Association, Firearms Policy Coalition, Magnum Shooting Center of Colorado Springs, the Colorado State Shooting Association, and a private citizen, Zachary Langston. They are represented by attorneys David H. Thompson, Peter A. Patterson, William V. Bergstrom, Athanasia O. Livas, Julian R. Ellis, Jr. and Michael Francisco.

Named as defendants are Heidi Humphreys, executive director of the state Department of Revenue and Michael J. Allen, district attorney of El Paso County, in their official capacities.

SAF and its partners contend that the state’s 6.5% excise tax on the retail sale of any firearm, firearm precursor part, or ammunition is unconstitutional in that it impermissibly singles out the exercise of a constitutional right for special taxation. There have been several rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court prohibiting such a tax scheme.

“Colorado’s new law impermissibly taxes an enumerated constitutional right,” said SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut. “Not only does the tax lack any basis in our nation’s history and tradition of firearms regulation, it violates Supreme Court precedent that states the exercise of constitutional rights cannot be targeted through taxation. We look forward to vindicating the rights of all Coloradans who are affected by this egregious attempt to chill the exercise of Second Amendment rights.”

“Federal legislation to prevent this sort of tax was introduced just days ago in both the House and Senate,” noted SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “They’re calling it the Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act, and greedy, anti-gun lawmakers in Colorado are probably at least partly responsible for such a bill on Capitol Hill. You simply cannot tax the exercise of a constitutionally-protected fundamental right.”

The post Second Amendment Foundation Files Lawsuit Challenging CO’s Excise Tax on Guns first appeared on Colorado Concealed Carry.

According to multiple reports, including the Manitou Springs Police Department and regional news outlets, the incident occurred around 8:15 a.m. on the 100 block of Pawnee Avenue in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Police responded to calls of a stabbing and a possible shooting. When they arrived on scene, they found one man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and another man with a serious stab wound to the neck.

The victim, whose name has not yet been released, was outside his home when he was suddenly and violently attacked by 26-year-old Ryan Sutherland. Sutherland allegedly stabbed the homeowner in the neck with a knife. Despite the critical injury, the victim was able to access his legally carried firearm and return fire, striking Sutherland multiple times.

Both men were transported to area hospitals. The victim is expected to survive and recover. Sutherland, while also surviving the shooting, has since been arrested and booked into the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center. He faces multiple charges including attempted second-degree murder.

Investigators determined the man who was stabbed acted in lawful self-defense. The Manitou Springs Police Department issued a statement confirming that the victim will not face any charges.

This incident is a stark reminder of why responsible firearm ownership matters. The victim’s ability to defend himself—despite suffering a potentially lethal injury—likely saved his life and prevented further violence. Had he not been armed, the outcome could have been tragically different.

From a self-defense and gun rights perspective, this case highlights several key takeaways:

• Situational Awareness: The victim was attacked in a place most of us consider safe—his own driveway. Violence can erupt anywhere, anytime.

• The Value of Being Armed: In a matter of seconds, the victim went from unsuspecting civilian to fighting for his life. Being armed made the difference.

• Lawful Self-Defense Works: This is not vigilantism. This is a citizen using force to stop a violent felony against himself. The law rightly recognizes that distinction.

While the investigation continues, there’s no ambiguity in this case: a man was violently attacked and fought back using the tools he had at his disposal. It’s a story that reflects the reality of why the Second Amendment matters—because evil exists, and we have a right to defend ourselves from it.

We wish the victim a full recovery and commend him for his courage and quick action in the face of grave danger.

Sources:

1. KOAA News 5 – Manitou Springs Police Department investigating possible stabbing Tuesday
2. The Gazette – Man arrested on attempted murder charge after Manitou Springs stabbing
3. KVOR News – A Suspect Arrested After Allegedly Stabbing Someone in Manitou Springs

The post Manitou Springs Resident Defends Himself After Stabbing, Shoots Attacker in Driveway first appeared on Colorado Concealed Carry.

This is my attempt to offer a summary of what has passed and what implications there may be for you as well as warn you against what may be coming.

Laws Passed Last Year

SB24-003 – Tax Dollars to Enforce Unconstitutional Gun Laws

Summary: This bill allocates 1.7 million to CBI to investigate and enforce gun crimes; specifically ghost gun manufacturing, high capacity magazine crimes, and future gun restrictions.

Action For You To Take: Nothing.

SB24-066 – Work to Allow Financial Institutions Access to Identify Firearm-Related Transactions

Summary: This bill forces financial institutions to identify Colorado gun stores and force them to utilize the Firearm Merchant Category Code, thus enabling any bank or credit card company to be able to identify gun-related transactions for whatever purpose they desire. I wrote about the extreme danger of this proposal here.

Action For You To Take: I strongly recommend that moving forward you use cash only when making purchases from any sporting goods retailer in Colorado and especially gun stores.

SB24-131 – Prohibit Open and Concealed Carry in Some “Sensitive Places” & Schools

Summary: This law prohibits open or concealed carry in State legislative buildings, a “building of local government’s governing body,” and any courthouse or other building used for court proceedings. Further, this law also removes the previous right to have a firearm (with permit) on a college campus or university campus. Exceptions for parking lots remain as before.

Action For You To Take: You can no longer carry on campus.

HB24-1174 – Increase the requirements for a Concealed Carry Permit

Summary: This law changes the required training to obtain or renew a permit. Currently about any gun safety class would qualify one to apply. This law would require a minimum of 8 hours of instruction with a written and live fire test of a minimum of 50 rounds. In addition, it would require a minimum 2-hour class for every permit renewal and it would require instructors to be “verified” by a local sheriff. The law allows the sheriff to charge a fee to verify an instructor.

Action For You To Take: If your permit is coming up for renewal in the next 120 days, I recommend you try your best to get that renewal done before July 1st. This will save you from having to take a newly required renewal class (which I will be offering). If you know anyone interested in applying for a permit they should consider getting that done before July 1st.

HB24-1348 – Extend Existing “Safe Storage” Law to Vehicles

Summary: Prohibits leaving a handgun in a vehicle unless stored in a locked hard-sided container, not in plain view.

Action For You to Take: I hope this doesn’t require any change because you already were securing your firearms properly when you left them in your vehicles unattended.

HB24-1349 – Levy a 6.5% Tax on Gun, Gun Parts, and Ammunition

Summary: This law levies an excise tax on gun dealers, gun manufacturers, and ammunition vendors at the rate of 6.5% of the net taxable sales from the retail sale of any gun, gun precursor part, or ammunition in the state. This law is in effect on April 1st, 2025.

Action For You to Take: Not much you can do on this one. I’m afraid it is what it is.

HB24-1353 – Colorado Wants to be its own ATF And License Gun Dealers

Summary: Local gun dealers, who already have to pay for and retain a license from the ATF now also have to apply for and obtain a license from the state. It comes with fees and other dumb requirements.

Action For You To Take: Nothing.

Laws Proposed This Year

SB25-003 – Semi-Auto Firearm ban

Summary: While the phrase Semi-Auto ban sounds pretty exhaustive of about every gun we own the bill is really only targeting AR-15s and other carbines. Most popular semi-automatic shotguns and handguns are excluded from this law. This law, which as of this writing is just waiting on the governor’s signature, doesn’t ban any guns currently in circulation. Rather it bans purchasing, manufacturing, selling and transferring the specified guns. Additionally, one can be exempted from this ban if they meet specific educational requirements, meaning if you have taken and passed specific classes in recent history. There is a lot of complexity, frankly so if the Governor signs this I’ll have to write something more exhaustive about this law.

Status: Now Law. Update here.

HB25-1238 – Gun Show Requirements

Summary: This bill requires that only licensed FFL gun dealers can be vendors at the gun show and that the gun show promoter has to meet a number of requirements, including security measures, and ensuring existing laws are enforced. Minors can only attend if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Status: Now Law.

HB25-1133 – Ammunition Sale Requirements

Summary: This bill requires vendors to secure ammo in the retail store. It also bans the sale of ammunition to anyone under the age of 21. There are some exceptions for 18-20 year olds including an exception for onsite use at a gun range, members of the military, and those with a hunter education certificate. Rimfire ammo is also excluded. It also requires that shipped ammo not have any labels on the outside of the package that suggest it includes ammunition and also inform the shipping carrier that it is ammo.

Status: Now law. Update here.

There are also a few pro-gun bills proposed in this session, including a Constitutional Carry Bill and a bill to repeal the FFL Dealer Permit bill passed last year. I wouldn’t hold your breath on either of those making through the committee.

The post Colorado Gun Law Changes and Proposals – April 1st Update first appeared on Colorado Concealed Carry.

Image courtesy of Colorado Ceasefire

This law will change several key elements of the concealed carry training standards and processes we’ve been practicing in Colorado since 2003. Before I dive into the details I want to note a few important things for those of you looking to obtain the permit.

Since this law will change the training to require 8 hours of training to include both classroom and live fire range time we will be offering the class moving forward in TWO 4-HOUR PARTS. Part 1 will take place in a classroom and Part 2 on a live range. Students must complete both 4-hour parts before being eligible to apply for a permit AFTER July 1st, 2025.

If you can manage to get your application submitted prior to July 1st, 2025 only Part 1 will be necessary.

To reiterate, this law doesn’t go into effect until July 1st, 2025. That means that up until that date you can take any existing class (that doesn’t meet the future requirements) and still apply for your permit. Similarly, if your permit is to expire before the new law goes into effect you can renew it without taking a certified renewal class as outlined by the new law.

So far several counties have confirmed that as long as your application is submitted prior to July 1st, 2025 your training can meet the old standards even if the process carries beyond July 1st. We assume all counties will follow that standard but don’t have the capacity to confirm with each of them.

Second, this law is going to make it less convenient and more expensive for people to get a concealed carry permit. This will lead to people feeling more intimidated and will ultimately mean less people will go through the process. This is heartbreaking. I strongly urge anyone who has an interest to please take the time and make the commitment to go through the necessary training to legally obtain the permit.

What follows is a rough summary of the changes that this law will impose:

Before July 1st, 2025: Almost any firearm safety class taught by a certified instructor qualifies the student to apply for a concealed handgun permit. No live fire or test is required and no specific number of hours or length of class is specified by law. Further, in order to apply one needed to show having completed such a class in the previous 10 years.

With the new law: In order to qualify to apply for a permit, the class must run no less than 8 hours (it doesn’t have to be consecutive). Further, the class must include both a live fire qualification as well as a written test. The written test MUST be open book, and the live fire test must consist of no less than 50 rounds fired. There isn’t any specificity as to what these tests look like beyond a minimum score though since it would seem the instructor can define both the test and the scoring method it doesn’t really matter. One must show having completed such a class in the previous year.

Before July 1st, 2025: Permits expire every 5 years and when renewing the permittee needs to demonstrate they have completed a qualifying class in the past 10 years.

With the new law: Those wishing to renew their permit must complete a “concealed carry renewal class” or the standard new concealed carry class in the 6 months prior to submitting the renewal application.

The new law also has a new verification process for instructors like me to get verified by a county sheriff and the county sheriff will be required to post a list of all verified instructors in their county online.

The post New Colorado Concealed Carry Law and Implications first appeared on Colorado Concealed Carry.