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Minimum Age to Carry in CO

denwego

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2006
Messages
276
Location
Houston, Texas, USA
imported post

REMEMBER - Federal law always applies. FFL holders cannot sell a pistol to anyone under the age of 21; however, Colorado is a state with no prohibitions of the private sales of weapons, and localities are preempted from imposing private sale restrictions. Private sales to anyone over the age of 18 are legal.

With the narrow exceptions of hunting, target shooting, and various other sporting activities when under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian, the general age for legal possession of a handgun in Colorado is 18.

Colorado Revised Statutes §18-12-108.5-7

18-12-108.5. Possession of handguns by juveniles - prohibited - exceptions - penalty.
Statute text

(1) (a) Except as provided in this section, it is unlawful for any person who has not attained the age of eighteen years knowingly to have any handgun in such person's possession.

(b) Any person possessing any handgun in violation of paragraph (a) of this subsection (1) commits the offense of illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile.

(c) (I) Illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile is a class 2 misdemeanor.

18-12-108.7. Unlawfully providing or permitting a juvenile to possess a handgun - penalty - unlawfully providing a firearm other than a handgun to a juvenile - penalty.
Statute text

(1) (a) Any person who intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly provides a handgun with or without remuneration to any person under the age of eighteen years in violation of section 18-12-108.5 or any person who knows of such juvenile's conduct which violates section 18-12-108.5 and fails to make reasonable efforts to prevent such violation commits the crime of unlawfully providing a handgun to a juvenile or permitting a juvenile to possess a handgun.

(b) Unlawfully providing a handgun to a juvenile or permitting a juvenile to possess a handgun in violation of this subsection (1) is a class 4 felony.

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However, one must remember that Denver (nota bene - the whole County of Denver) has a unique status under current judicial precedent allowing them to totally ban open carry by anyone who doesn't have a special "open carry permit" issued by Denver. Since this is governed by Denver municipal code, it still operates under a "may issue" statute, which in turn means Denver only issues them to security guards, armored car drivers, and other very small groups of folks. Outside of the County of Denver, state law totally preempts firearm laws, and open carry is prohibited only where specifically allowed under state law.

If you somehow manage to get a Denver open carry permit, you have to be 21 years old to do so.

Denver Municipal Code §38-117 - Dangerous or deadly weapons--Prohibitions.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, except a law enforcement officer in the performance of duty, to wear under their clothes, or concealed about their person any dangerous or deadly weapon, including, but not by way of limitation, any pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, machine gun, air gun, gas operated gun, spring gun, sling shot, blackjack, nunchaku, brass knuckles or artificial knuckles of any substance whatsoever, or any switchblade knife, gravity knife, or any knife having a blade greater than three and one-half (3 1/2) inches in length, or any explosive device, incendiary device or bomb, or other dangerous or deadly weapon.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person, except a law enforcement officer in the performance of duty, to carry, use or wear any dangerous or deadly weapon, including, but not by way of limitation, any pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, machine gun, air gun, gas operated gun, spring gun, sling shot, blackjack, nunchaku, brass knuckles or artificial knuckles of any substance whatsoever, or switchblade knife, gravity knife, or any knife having a blade greater than three and one-half (3 1/2) inches in length, or anyexplosive device, incendiary device or bomb, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon.

(f) It shall not be an offense under 38-117(a) or 38-117(b) if:
(1) The person, at the time of carrying the concealed weapon, holds a valid written permit to carry a concealed weapon issued pursuant to section 18-12-105.1, C.R.S., prior to its repeal, or, if the weapon involved was a handgun, holds a valid permit or a temporary emergency permit to carry a concealed handgun issued pursuant to state law and is otherwise carrying the handgun in conformance with any applicable state or local law; or
(2) The person is carrying the weapon concealed within a private automobile or other private means of conveyance, for hunting or for lawful protection of such person's or another person's person or property, while travelling, and the weapon is not an explosive device, incendiary device, or a bomb. If the weapon is a firearm being transported for hunting, it shall be unloaded while being carried within the private automobile or other private means of conveyance.

Denver Municipal Code §42-137. Merchant, Business, or Industrial Guards or Patrols. Firearms.
Licensees shall have the right to openly carry firearms only when specifically authorized by the chief of police through the manager of safety who will grant such authority only when, in the manager's opinion, the duties to be performed and the services to be rendered by the licensee require that a firearm be carried for the protection of the licensee and only when the licensee demonstrates that the licensee is proficient in the care, maintenance and the use of firearms. The authority to carry firearms will be extended only while the licensee is performing the required duties of employment and while en route to or from the place of business. The authority to carry firearms will not be extended to any person under twenty-one (21) years of age.
 
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