Colorado Firearm Legislation

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

Purpose: The Second Amendment is crucial for security and freedom, allowing Americans to protect themselves. The government must not limit this right.
Plan of Action:
- Within 30 days, the Attorney General must review all government rules and actions from 2021–2025 that might have restricted gun rights.
- The review includes past presidential orders, gun regulations, law enforcement policies, lawsuits, firearm classifications, and licensing processes.
- The Attorney General will create a plan to fix any restrictions found.
Implementation: After the review, the Attorney General will work with the President’s team to finalize and carry out the plan.
Bottom Line: The government is reviewing recent gun regulations to ensure they don’t infringe on Second Amendment rights and will take action if needed.

Introduced as Senate Bill 25-003 – Semiautomatic firearms & Rapid-Fire Devices, “Permit-To-Purchase”

Prohibits the manufacture, distribution, sale and purchase of semi-automatic firearms
- Defines the penalty as a Class 2 Misdemeanor. Second offense is Class 6 Felony
Classifies a device that increases the rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm as a Dangerous Weapon
- Existing law prohibits the possession of a Dangerous Weapon
Introduced – January 8, 2025
Proposed Effective Date – September 1, 2025
Senate Vote – laid over for a second time. Now scheduled for 2/13/25
2/14/25 – Senate Vote – Preliminary approval after vote. The bill has been amended to include two exemptions:
- A person who passes a basic(4 hour) or extended(12 hour) firearms training course(as required), may submit an application (with fingerprint cards) to the sheriff who will submit the application to the Bureau, who shall perform a criminal background check on the applicant. A successful applicant will receive a firearms safety eligibility card, good for 5 years, issued by the sheriff.
- A list of exempted semi-auto firearms has been created that includes rifles commonly used for hunting and/or historic military firearms.
Bill needs a final vote in the Senate before it can be presented to the Governor. If signed in to law it would go into effect in September 2025.
2/18/25 – Passed third vote in the Senate. Now goes to House of Representatives for voting there. If it passes, goes to the Governors desk.

Introduced as House Bill 24-1349 – Establish excise tax on firearm related sales

Creates an 6.5% excise tax on the sale of any firearm, firearm precursor part, or ammunition
- Exemptions: Peace officers, law enforcement agencies, active duty military
Requires excise revenue be spent on mental health services, school safety and gun violence prevention, and victims of violent crimes
Introduced – February 28, 2024
Signed Act – June 5, 2024
Effective Date – April 1, 2025

Senate Bill 23-279 – Ghost Guns

Bans the manufacture and possession of un-serialized frames and receivers
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
Introduced – April 12, 2023
Signed as an act – June 3, 2023
Effective Date – January 1, 2024

House Bill 23-1219 – 3-Day Waiting Period

Establishes a minimum 3-day waiting period prior to the delivery of a purchased firearm
Introduced – February 23, 2023
Signed as an Act – April 28, 2023
Effective Date – October 1, 2023

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.
Introduced – February 23, 2023
Signed as an Act – April 28, 2023
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.
Penalty – Class 2 misdemeanor to attempt to buy
Penalty – Class 1 misdemeanor for a dealer to sell
Introduced – February 23, 2023
Signed as an act – April 28, 2023
- Postponed til General Election, November 2024
Effective Date – November 27, 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.
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
Introduced – February 23, 2023
Signed as an Act – April 28, 2023
Effective Date – April 28, 2023

House Bill 13-1224 – High Capacity Magazine Ban

Prohibits the sale, transfer, or possession of an ammunition feeding device that is capable of accepting, or that can be readily converted to accept, more than 15 rounds of ammunition or more than 5 shotgun shells.
First Penalty – Class 1 misdemeanor
Effective Date – July 1, 2013