Where can I NOT carry with a valid Colorado concealed carry permit?
18-12-214. Authority granted by permit - carrying restrictions.
(1) (a) A permit to carry a concealed handgun authorizes the permittee to carry a concealed handgun in all areas of the state, except
(2) A permit issued does not authorize a person to carry a concealed handgun into a place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law.
(3) A permit issued pursuant to this part 2 does not authorize a person to carry a concealed handgun onto the real property, or into any improvements erected thereon, of a public elementary, middle, junior high, or high school
(4) A permit issued does not authorize a person to carry a concealed handgun into a public building at which:
(a) Security personnel and electronic weapons screening devices are permanently in place at each entrance to the building;
(b) Security personnel electronically screen each person who enters the building to determine whether the person is carrying a weapon of any kind; and
(c) Security personnel require each person who is carrying a weapon of any kind to leave the weapon in possession of security personnel while the person is in the building.
(5) Nothing in this shall be construed to limit existing rights of a private property owner, private tenant, private employer, or private business entity.
Can I carry a concealed handgun, with my permit, into a city or county building? Yes, as long as they do not have the security procedures in place as outlined in 18-12-214(4), as detailed above.
18-12-214. Authority granted by permit - carrying restrictions.
(1) (a) A permit to carry a concealed handgun authorizes the permittee to carry a concealed handgun in all areas of the state, except
(2) A permit issued does not authorize a person to carry a concealed handgun into a place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law.
(3) A permit issued pursuant to this part 2 does not authorize a person to carry a concealed handgun onto the real property, or into any improvements erected thereon, of a public elementary, middle, junior high, or high school
(4) A permit issued does not authorize a person to carry a concealed handgun into a public building at which:
(a) Security personnel and electronic weapons screening devices are permanently in place at each entrance to the building;
(b) Security personnel electronically screen each person who enters the building to determine whether the person is carrying a weapon of any kind; and
(c) Security personnel require each person who is carrying a weapon of any kind to leave the weapon in possession of security personnel while the person is in the building.
(5) Nothing in this shall be construed to limit existing rights of a private property owner, private tenant, private employer, or private business entity.
Note: Some cities and municipalities attempt to skirt the law, violate state law or mislead citizens (see example below). To solve this problem, become a member and help us fix it!
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| The city of Castle Rock caught red-handed, violating the rights of permit holders by giving the impression that no firearms are allowed. RMGO staff prompted them to change their sign to ------> | This sign has now been changed to ban only open carry -- a good change, though certainly not perfect. |
If I have a concealed carry permit, can I carry on K-12 school grounds? NO
18-12-214. Authority granted by permit - carrying restrictions.
(3) A permit does not authorize a person to carry a concealed handgun onto the real property, or into any improvements erected thereon, of a public elementary, middle, junior high, or high school.
Note: Previous to the 2003 Concealed Carry law, you could legally carry concealed with a permit on school grounds. If you don't like that concession (we don't), talk to former Governor Bill Owens and the NRA.
If I am carrying a concealed handgun and have to go on school grounds, what do I do?
18-12-214. Authority granted by permit - carrying restrictions.
(3) (a) A permittee may have a handgun on the real property of the public school so long as the handgun remains in his or her vehicle and, if the permittee is not in the vehicle, the handgun is in a compartment within the vehicle and the vehicle is locked;
If I have a concealed carry permit, can I carry on college school grounds? YES (with conditions, and as long as it is a public school)
18-12-105.5. Unlawfully carrying a weapon - unlawful possession of weapons - school, college, or university grounds.
(3) It shall not be an offense under this section if:
(d) The person, at the time of carrying a concealed weapon, held a valid written permit to carry a concealed weapon
However, then Attorney General Ken Salazar wrote an opinion that, since the Regents to the University of Colorado are a constitutional office and have powers to govern that university, they may ban concealed carry on their campuses. As of the writing of this document, all of CU's campuses have a ban on concealed carry.
Can I carry at work (a private entity, not a government job), even if my employer/supervisor has banned guns on the property? NO.
18-12-214 Authority granted by permit - carrying restrictions.
(5) Nothing in this part 2 shall be construed to limit, restrict, or prohibit in any manner the existing rights of a private property owner, private tenant, private employer, or private business entity.
If I have a permit to carry concealed, can I carry concealed in the City of Denver? YES (see Denver Police Department letter -- note: this letter was written prior to Colorado's reciprocity law) (also see the Meyers decision)
18-12-214. Authority granted by permit - carrying restrictions.
(1) (a) A permit to carry a concealed handgun authorizes the permittee to carry a concealed handgun in all areas of the state. A local government does not have authority to adopt or enforce an ordinance or resolution that would conflict with any provision of this.
If I have a concealed carry permit, can I carry at places like the Denver Zoo (which has a sign indicating "No Guns")? Yes.
This is another case of an anti-gun city posting a deceptive sign. But state law (18-12-214, see above) gives them no choice. RMGO Executive Director Dudley Brown confronted the Denver Zoo on this sign, and after viewing their written policy (which is not displayed in public, and which states in very small writing that permit holders are allowed to carry), promptly carried (much to the dismay of security personnel).
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| This deceptive "No Guns" sign at the Denver Zoo (a publicly owned facility) is yet another attempt to fool gun owners into going defenseless. However, their written policy (which isn't displayed, and is available only upon request) recognizes they have no choice but to allow permit holders. |
Which other states Permits are good in Colorado? MANY
For a full and updated list check: http://cbi.state.co.us/ic/Reciprocity.html
As a resident of Colorado, can I use my Florida/Utah concealed carry permit to carry in Colorado? NO (changed as of 6/2007, due to SB07-34)
As simply as we can put it: a non-resident Florida/Utah permit (a permit issued by Utah or Florida to an applicant who is not a resident of that state) is no longer valid in Colorado. A Florida/Utah permit to carry in any other state that allows non-resident permits might be valid, but not in Colorado.
Florida and Utah are states that issues "non-resident" permits (Colorado law does not authorize a sheriff to issue a non-resident permit). This new law, which we stridently opposed, says that for a non-Colorado permit to be valid in Colorado, that permit must be from a state which has a reciprocity agreement with Colorado, and (here's where the new law adds a criteria) that permit holder must be a resident of the state that issued the permit.
That also means that for a Utah or Florida carry permit to be valid, the person carrying that permit must be from the state that issued the permit.
As a resident of New York (or any state that does not issue CCW permits), can I use my Florida/Utah concealed carry permit to carry in Colorado? NO (changed as of 6/2007, due to SB07-34)
Florida and Utah are states that issues "non-resident" permits (Colorado law does not authorize a sheriff to issue a non-resident permit). This new law, which we stridently opposed, says that for a non-Colorado permit to be valid in Colorado, that permit must be from a state which has a reciprocity agreement with Colorado, and (here's where the new law adds a criteria) that permit holder must be a resident of the state that issued the permit.
That also means that for a Utah or Florida carry permit to be valid, the person carrying that permit must be from the state that issued the permit.
