Colorado Firearm Legislation

Click the blue links to see the full bill. Bulleted points are non-attorney intepretations.

Senate Bill 23-279 – Ghost Guns

  • Bans the manufacture and possession of un-serialized frames and receivers
  • 6/5/23 – Signed as an act
  • Effective Date – Upon passage and applies to offenses committed on or after said date
  • Sections 18-12-111.5 (1) and (3), takes effect January 1, 2024, and applies to offenses committed on or after said date.
  • First Penalty – Class 1 misdemeanor, up to 364 days in jail
  • Subsequent Penalty – Class 5 felony, up to 3 years in jail
  • People who possess un-serialized guns or gun parts have until Jan 1, 2024, to have them serialized by a licensed firearms dealer

House Bill 23-1219 – 3-Day Waiting Period

  • Establishes a minimum 3-day waiting period prior to the delivery of a purchased firearm
  • 4/28/23 – Signed as an act
  •   Effective Date – Oct 1, 2023 unless a referendum petition is filed against it within 90 days of signing( ≈7/27/23).  If a petition is filed then the bill will be decided by the people at the General Election in Nov, 2024.

Senate Bill 23-168 – Firearms Industry Accountability

  • Expands product liability to include a ‘firearms industry member’ when a person or entity has suffered harm as a result of an industry member violation of the firearm industry standards for responsible conduct.
  •   4/28/23 – Signed as an act
  • Effective Date – October 1, 2023

Senate Bill 23-169 – Raise age from 18 to 21

  • It is unlawful for a person who is less than twenty-one years of age to purchase a firearm.
  •  4/28/23 – Signed as an act
  •    Effective Date – ≈7/27/2023 unless a referendum petition is filed within 90 days of signing.  If a petition is filed the bill will be decided by the people at the General Election in Nov, 2024.
  •        Penalty – Class 2 misdemeanor to attempt to buy
  •        Penalty – Class 1 misdemeanor for a dealer to sell
  • Postponed til General Election, Nov 2024

Senate Bill 23-170 – Red Flag expansion

  •     Expands the list of who can petition for an extreme risk protection order from family/household member/law enforcement to now include licensed medical/mental providers, educators, district attorneys.
  •   4/28/23- Signed as an act
  •   Effective Date – this was a repeal and re-enact, so currently effective
  •    Restrictions:  A person under an extreme risk protection order may not have custody or control of a firearm or purchase, posess, receive or attempt to purchase or receive a firearm while the order is in effect.  All firearms in their custody or control, and any concealed carry permit, must be surrendered immediately(Selling or transferring possession to an FFL)
  •      Penalty – Class 2 Misdemeanor, for both the person under the ERPO and a person who knowingly transacts a firearms to a person under an ERPO