Advice on transporting guns into Colorado?

[J-Bar]

I would like to go to a cowboy action shooting match in Colorado, but I am concerned about how the recently enacted laws in Colorado might affect transporting my guns into the state in my private car.

I will appreciate guidance from those Colorado residents and residents of neighboring states on how to do this without getting into trouble.

Thanks.

 

[KsThumper]

No License/Permit = FOPA rules apply. All firearms unloaded in locked cases with ammo separate.

Yes, a License/Permit = Loaded hangun allowed in vehicle in KS and CO. All rifles and shotguns unloaded in locked cases.

Were in Colorado is important.

Denver and Denver County and north along Front Range/I25 is not gun friendly with Weld County [Greeley] the exception. No problems along front Range south of Douglas County line and anywhere else west into mountains and West slope with Pueblo County the exception.

Colorado County map

Open carry without license/permit is allowed in Colorado except Denver, Denver County and Breckenridge but not recommended in un-friendly areas mentioned above. Best to have license/permit if open carry.

handgunlaw.us - Colorado

 

[MErl]

there was nothing in the laws about import. You can bring in anything as long as you have maintained possession (mags >15rnd) and don't give it to anyone. Gonna GUESS that law will be enforced as "does it have a date stamp after the ban date?"

Residents can carry a loaded handgun or rifle in their vehicle (except for some quirks about rifles & hunting) but not sure that applies to nonresidents.

The actual city/county of Denver has stricter/older bans so don't get off the highway in that city. Note that the airport is in the city of Denver.

 

[mrvco]

The mag restriction doesn't take effect until 7/1 and isn't going to be relevant to your CAS guns anyway. The mag law doesn't apply to lever guns and I don't think you can run a pump in CAS with a tube longer that 28 inches.

Existing laws that apply to "hunting" prohibit you from having a round chambered in a rifle or shotgun during transport in your vehicle. This restriction does not apply to handguns (no permit needed to carry a loaded handgun in your vehicle).

I'd avoid spending any time inside the City of Denver regardless... just keep on driving down the interstate until you get to the other side.


edit: And I don't expect the mag ban to be enforced (I still haven't found an example of the Denver city 20+ round mag ban being enforced) unless someone is actively selling 15+ round mags post-ban or if a Pro2A LEO/DA is looking to send a test case through the courts.

edit2: And yes, Denver is a home-rule city and Open Carry is illegal inside the city limits.

 

[razorback2003]

As far as I understand, if you do not have a license reciprocal with Colorado, you can keep a loaded handgun in your vehicle. You can also openly carry there without a license.

I think Denver has some additional restrictions.

 

[KnekBeard]

Reading the actual statutes might be helpful. I could not get them to come up on my phone, howerver if you search for colorado revised statutes they are easy to find.

If you go down to page 11 on this link: http://larimersheriff.org/sites/def...SOC APPLICATION INFO PKT updated 021412_0.pdf
They have all the carrying relevant laws, which for the most part would also apply to open carry without a permit.

People seem to be making a bigger fuss about the new laws than they need to. The worst part of all of it is no longer having private sales after July 1st.

One thing the legislature did change is how a firearm is seen in relation to the deadly weapons statute.
Here is a link to the thread in which it was discussed.
http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-713415.html

If you stay out of boulder and denver city and county which is fairly small, but has unusual borders you should be fine. I have had no problems open carrying in larimer county and fort collins, which some seem to think is a bad idea. You are good to go in your car with a loaded handgun concealed or not anywhere in the state as long as it is not a k-12 school or restricted govt facility.
As has been said keep long guns unloaded in the car. Private property is obviously at the owner's discretion.

Edit: Colorado does not have a duty to inform officers that you are armed. If asked you must answer truthfully, and most places i would tell them immidiately anyways.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

C.R.S. 18-12-204
18-12-204. Permit contents - validity - carrying requirements



(1) (a) Each permit shall bear a color photograph of the permittee and shall display the signature of the sheriff who issues the permit. In addition, the sheriffs of this state shall ensure that all permits issued pursuant to this part 2 contain the same items of information and are the same size and the same color.

(b) A permit is valid for a period of five years after the date of issuance and may be renewed as provided in section 18-12-211. A permit issued pursuant to this part 2, including a temporary emergency permit issued pursuant to section 18-12-209, is effective in all areas of the state, except as otherwise provided in section 18-12-214.

(2) (a) A permittee, in compliance with the terms of a permit, may carry a concealed handgun as allowed by state law. The permittee shall carry the permit, together with valid photo identification, at all times during which the permittee is in actual possession of a concealed handgun and shall produce both documents upon demand by a law enforcement officer. Failure to produce a permit upon demand by a law enforcement officer raises a rebuttable presumption that the person does not have a permit. Failure to carry and produce a permit and valid photo identification upon demand as required in this subsection (2) is a class 1 petty offense. A charge of failure to carry and produce a permit and valid photo identification upon demand pursuant to this subsection (2) shall be dismissed by the court if, at or before the permittee's scheduled court appearance, the permittee exhibits to the court a valid permit and valid photo identification, both of which were issued to the permittee prior to the date on which the permittee was charged with failure to carry and produce a permit and valid photo identification upon demand.

(b) The provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) apply to temporary emergency permits issued pursuant to section 18-12-209.

(3) (a) A person who may lawfully possess a handgun may carry a handgun under the following circumstances without obtaining a permit and the handgun shall not be considered concealed:

(I) The handgun is in the possession of a person who is in a private automobile or in some other private means of conveyance and who carries the handgun for a legal use, including self-defense; or
(II) The handgun is in the possession of a person who is legally engaged in hunting activities within the state.

(b) The provisions of this subsection (3) shall not be construed to authorize the carrying of a handgun in violation of the provisions of section 18-12-105 or 18-12-105.5.

HISTORY: Source: L. 2003: Entire part added, p. 639, § 1, effective May 17.


C.R.S. 18-12-204

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