Navigating Colorado’s gun laws is essential for responsible gun owners and enthusiasts. This 2025 guide covers ghost guns, 80% lowers, concealed carry, magazine limits, and more, ensuring you stay compliant and informed in Colorado. For related resources, check out our detailed breakdown of ghost gun laws, 80% lowers, and more.
Summary and Gun-Friendliness Rating for Colorado
Summary: Colorado has moderate gun laws, requiring universal background checks, a 3-day waiting period, red flag laws, and medium safe storage rules, but lacking an assault weapons ban.
Gun-Friendliness Rating:
25% – 0 = Strictest gun laws, 100 = Most gun-friendly
Assault Weapons Ban in Colorado
Assault weapons regulations in Colorado are categorized as: No. Source: Giffords Law Center.
Magazine Capacity Limits in Colorado
Colorado restricts firearm magazines to a maximum capacity of 15 rounds. Source: Giffords Law Center.
Ghost Gun Laws in Colorado
Colorado regulates ghost guns, typically requiring serialization and background checks for frames and receivers. Source: Giffords Law Center.
Concealed Carry in Colorado
- Permit Type:
- Shall-issue (Giffords Law Center)
- Description:
- Colorado is a shall-issue state, meaning permits are issued to qualified applicants who meet statutory requirements.
Waiting Period in Colorado
Colorado enforces a 3-day waiting period for firearm purchases. Source: Giffords Law Center.
Red Flag Laws in Colorado
Colorado has enacted red flag laws, allowing temporary removal of firearms from individuals deemed a danger. Source: Giffords Law Center.
Safe Storage Requirements in Colorado
Requirement Level: Medium (Source: Giffords Law Center)
Description: Colorado has moderate safe storage requirements, potentially involving locking devices in certain situations.
Background Checks in Colorado
Colorado mandates universal background checks for nearly all firearm sales, including private transfers. Source: Giffords Law Center.
Open Carry in Colorado
Open carry of firearms is generally allowed in Colorado, potentially subject to local restrictions or permit requirements in certain areas. Source: Giffords Law Center.
Types of Guns Regulated in Colorado
Colorado does not have specific state-level bans on particular types of firearms beyond federal law. Source: Giffords Law Center.
Important Legal Cases in Colorado
- Baird v. Bonta (ongoing): Open carry restrictions challenge (Source: Giffords Law Center)
- Boland v. Bonta (ongoing): Ghost gun regulation challenge (Source: Giffords Law Center)
- Colorado v. Williams (2017): Firearm possession limits
- Vanderstok v. Garland (2024): Ghost gun federal regulation
- People v. Mosley (2020): Concealed carry violations
Our Opinion on Colorado’s Gun Laws
As advocates for the Second Amendment, Husky Armory finds Colorado’s gun laws, with a dismal rating of 25/100, to be a severe infringement on constitutional rights. Colorado has moderate gun laws, requiring universal background checks, a 3-day waiting period, red flag laws, and medium safe storage rules, but lacking an assault weapons ban—a litany of restrictions that stifles the freedoms of law-abiding citizens while doing little to address actual crime. The right to bear arms is a cornerstone of American liberty, and Colorado’s heavy-handed approach undermines that fundamental principle.
We urge Colorado to reconsider its stance, particularly on measures like assault weapons bans and universal background checks, which disproportionately burden responsible gun owners. The Second Amendment exists to protect against such overreach, and Colorado must work to dismantle these barriers to ensure its citizens can exercise their rights without fear of government intrusion. Liberty demands nothing less.
Disclaimer: This guide provides a general overview and is not legal advice. Gun laws change frequently. Always consult official state statutes and qualified legal counsel for specific guidance. Information primarily sourced from Giffords Law Center and state legislative websites as of April 2025.
