Colorado concealed carry reciprocity – 3 things to know

Posted on November 26, 2020

Colorado has concealed carry reciprocity with 33 other states. This means non-residents with current and valid concealed weapons permits from one of these states may lawfully carry a concealed handgun in Colorado. Likewise, a Colorado resident with a current and valid CHP (concealed handgun permit) can lawfully carry a concealed handgun in the other 33 states. Here are three things to know:

1. Reciprocal States

Currently, Colorado law has conceal carry reciprocity agreements with the following 33 states:

1. Alabama
2. Alaska
3. Arizona
4. Arkansas
5. Delaware
6. Florida
7. Georgia
8. Idaho
9. Iowa
10. Indiana
11. Kansas
12. Kentucky
13. Louisiana
14. Michigan
15. Mississippi
16. Missouri
17. Montana
18. Nebraska
19. New Hampshire
20. New Mexico
21. North Carolina
22. North Dakota
23. Ohio
24. Oklahoma
25. Pennsylvania
26. South Dakota
27. Tennessee
28. Texas
29. Utah
30. Virginia
31. West Virginia
32. Wisconsin
33. Wyoming

Therefore, Colorado does not recognize states permits from California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, and Washington. People with Colorado permits may not carry concealed firearms in these non-reciprocal states and D.C. And people with state permits from these non-reciprocal states may not carry concealed in Colorado.

2. Qualifying criteria

Under CRS 18-12-213, Colorado recognizes non-resident permits from the reciprocal 33 states if all of the following are true:

• The permittee is at least 21 years of age;
• The permittee is in physical possession of the concealed carry permit (often called a CCW permit, for carrying a concealed weapon);
• The permittee is a resident of the issuing state;
• The permittee has a state driver’s license (or state ID) showing that he/she is a resident of the state which issued the permit;
• the permit is current and valid in the issuing state; and
• The issuing state recognizes and honors Colorado CHP permits.

A weapon is considered concealed on a person if it is completely out of sight. An example is being hidden under a jacket or in a purse. But only partially-concealed weapons – such as a gun in a holster – is not considered concealed, and the carrier would not need a CHP.

3. Penalties and defenses

Under CRS 18-12-105, carrying a hidden firearm without a current and valid concealed carry permit is a class 1 misdemeanor. The sentence under Colorado state law includes:

• Up to 364 days in jail, and/or
• A fine of up to $1,000.

A second or subsequent offense of carrying concealed without a valid permit – within five years of the prior offense – is a class 5 felony. The punishment is:

• 1 to 3 years in Colorado State Prison (with 2 years mandatory parole), and/or
• A fine of $1,000 to $100,000.

In addition, anyone convicted of a felony loses his/her right to possess firearms at all under state and federal law.

Some possible defenses to Colorado charges of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit include the following:

• The defendant was on his/her own property at the time, and the purposes of the weapon was for self-defense.
• The defendant was in a private motor vehicle, and the weapon was for protection while traveling.
• The defendant did not knowingly possess the weapon (perhaps it was planted on the defendant).
• The defendant was openly carrying the gun, not carrying it concealed. (Learn about Colorado’s open carry gun laws.)
• The defendant was a permit holder complying with all of the Colorado concealed carry rules, and the police officer made a mistake.
• The police entrapped the defendant.
• The police coerced a confession.
• Law enforcement found the weapon through an illegal search.

Our law office is headquartered in Denver, but we serve clients throughout the state of Colorado.

Colorado is a shall issue state. Learn about how to get a CHP permit in Colorado. It involves a Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) background check. People can obtain the permit application from the local sheriff / law enforcement agency. Also refer to the Colorado Attorney General and Department of Public Safety for more information.

Prior March 1, 2022, carrying a concealed weapon was a Colorado class 2 misdemeanor that could be punished by a fine of $250 to $1,000 and/or 3 to 12 months in jail. SB21-271.