Colorado’s firearm laws are designed to prevent theft, accidents and suicide through responsible storage, reporting, and voluntary safeguards.
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Firearms must be responsibly and securely stored when they are not in use to prevent access by unsupervised juveniles and other unauthorized users.
Unlawful storage of a firearm is defined as storage of a firearm in a manner that the person knows or should know:
That a juvenile can gain access to the firearm without the permission of parent or guardian;
The resident of the premises is ineligible to possess a firearm under state or federal law.
Tip: Store firearms locked and unloaded when not in use and use gun safes, lock boxes or quality locking devices. Store ammunition separate from firearms.
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A person shall not knowingly leave a handgun in an unattended vehicle unless the handgun is in a locked hard-sided container that is placed out of plain view.
A person shall not knowingly leave a firearm that is not a handgun in an unattended vehicle unless the firearm is in a locked hard-sided or locked soft-sided container, with a locking device, that is placed out of plain view.
Violating this is a civil infraction.
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Must report a lost or stolen firearm to a law enforcement agency within 5 days of discovering the firearm is lost or stolen.
Law Enforcement agencies that receive a report of a lost or stolen firearm must enter information in the CBI crime information database.
First offense is civil offense, $25 fine
Second and subsequent offenses is a misdemeanor, maximum $500 fine.
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WHY: By delaying access to firearms for those who chose to voluntarily participate on a do-not-sell list, it is reasonable to expect a reduction in overall suicide risk
A person may voluntarily waive the right to purchase a firearm.
While the waiver is in effect, the bureau shall deny the transfer of a firearm to a person who voluntarily waived the right to purchase a firearm.
A person who voluntarily waives the right to purchase a firearm may designate one or more contact persons who will be contacted if the person attempts to purchase a firearm while the voluntary waiver is in effect or if the person revokes the voluntary waiver.
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Firearms may be loaned to a relative, as long as the person isn’t prohibited by law from having a gun. “Relatives” are defined in statute as spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandparents or grandkids, nieces or nephews, first cousins, and aunts/uncles.
Colorado law says that loans to a non-relative for over 72 hours must go through a background check, usually at a gun shop.
To learn more about Colorado laws regarding temporary transfers see CRS 18-12-112 or consult an attorney.