18-12-108.5 CRS – Possession of a Handgun by a Juvenile – Colorado Law

18-12-108.5 CRS is the Colorado statute that makes it generally illegal for a juvenile to possess a handgun. A first offense is treated as a class 2 misdemeanor that can be punished by probation, fines and custody time in a youth detention facility.

The full language of 18-12-108.5 CRS states that:

(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.

(II) For any second or subsequent offense, illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile is a class 5 felony.

(d) Any person under the age of eighteen years who is taken into custody by a law enforcement officer for an offense pursuant to this section shall be taken into temporary custody in the manner described in section 19-2-508, C.R.S.

(2) This section shall not apply to:

(a) Any person under the age of eighteen years who is:

(I) In attendance at a hunter’s safety course or a firearms safety course; or

(II) Engaging in practice in the use of a firearm or target shooting at an established range authorized by the governing body of the jurisdiction in which such range is located or any other area where the discharge of a firearm is not prohibited; or

(III) Engaging in an organized competition involving the use of a firearm or participating in or practicing for a performance by an organized group under 501 (c) (3) as determined by the federal internal revenue service which uses firearms as a part of such performance; or

(IV) Hunting or trapping pursuant to a valid license issued to such person pursuant to article 4 of title 33, C.R.S.; or

(V) Traveling with any handgun in such person’s possession being unloaded to or from any activity described in subparagraph (I), (II), (III), or (IV) of this paragraph (a);

(b) Any person under the age of eighteen years who is on real property under the control of such person’s parent, legal guardian, or grandparent and who has the permission of such person’s parent or legal guardian to possess a handgun;

(c) Any person under the age of eighteen years who is at such person’s residence and who, with the permission of such person’s parent or legal guardian, possesses a handgun for the purpose of exercising the rights contained in section 18-1-704 or section 18-1-704.5.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) of this section, a handgun is “loaded” if:

(a) There is a cartridge in the chamber of the handgun; or

(b) There is a cartridge in the cylinder of the handgun, if the handgun is a revolver; or

(c) The handgun, and the ammunition for such handgun, is carried on the person of a person under the age of eighteen years or is in such close proximity to such person that such person could readily gain access to the handgun and the ammunition and load the handgun.

Punishment for illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile

A first-time offense of illegal possession of a handgun by someone under 18 is considered a class 2 misdemeanor. Although juvenile sentencing is more flexible than for adults, penalties can include:

• Commitment to a juvenile detention center, and/or
• A monetary fine.

A second or subsequent offense for illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile is, however, considered a class 5 felony. Consequences of felony illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile can include:

• Up to several years in a Colorado Department of Youth Corrections facility, and/or
• A monetary fine.

Our Colorado juvenile defense lawyers can help

Colorado’s law prohibiting handgun possession by someone under 18 is full of nuances and exceptions. To help you better understand 18-12-108.5 C.R.S. and other Colorado gun laws, our Denver criminal defense lawyers discuss the following:

• 1. When can someone under 18 legally possess a handgun in Colorado?
• 2. What are the penalties for illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile?
• 3. How do I defend against the charges?

1. When can someone under 18 legally possess a handgun in Colorado?

If you are under 18, you may legally possess a handgun if you have the permission of your parent or legal guardian and any of the following apply:

• You are in attendance at a hunter’s safety course or a firearms safety course;
• You are practicing at a legitimately established shooting range where the discharge of a firearm is not prohibited by law;
• You are engaging in an organized competition involving the use of a firearm or participating in or practicing for a performance by an organized group that is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code;
• You are hunting or trapping pursuant to a valid license;
• You are traveling to or from any of the activities above with an unloaded handgun;
• You are on real property under the control of your parent, legal guardian, or grandparent and your parent or legal guardian has given you permission to possess a handgun there;¹ or
• With the permission of your parent or legal guardian, you have a handgun at your residence for self-defense.

For purposes of these exceptions, a handgun is considered “loaded” if:

• There is a cartridge in the chamber of the handgun; or
• There is a cartridge in the cylinder (if the handgun is a revolver); or
• You have both the handgun and ammunition on your person in such close proximity that you could readily gain access to both and load the handgun.

2. What are the penalties for illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile?

Colorado’s juvenile justice system has the discretion to impose a number of penalties against first-time juvenile offenders. These can include:

• Commitment to the Department of Youth Corrections (for serious crimes);
• If the juvenile is 16 and the crime is serious, he or she can be sentenced as an adult (though this is rare);
• Placement with a relative or other suitable person;
• Placement into the custody of the Department of Human Services;
• Commitment to a community accountability program;
• If the child is mentally ill, placement in a hospital;
• Up to 45 days detention in a youth detention facility;
• Payment of a fine or restitution to a victim;
• Anger management or any other appropriate treatment program; or
• Probation.

However, if the juvenile is a repeat offender and is not yet 18 at the time of sentencing, the court must sentence the child out of the home for at least one year, unless the court finds that an alternative sentence or a commitment of less than one year out of the home would be more appropriate.

If the offender is at least 18 on the date of sentencing, the court has the discretion to send a repeat offender to a county jail or a community correctional facility or program for up to 2 years.

The offender may, however, be released by the committing judge upon a showing of exemplary behavior.

3. How do I defend against the charges?

Common defenses to juvenile handgun charges include (but are not limited to):

• You were 18 years (or older) at the time of the alleged offense;
• You didn’t know you had a handgun in your possession;
• You fell within one of the listed exceptions to 18-12-108.5 C.R.S. (because you had the permission of your parents and were engaging in a legal or constitutionally protected activity);
• You were at home and possessed the gun for self-defense with the permission of your parents or legal guardian; or
• The gun was discovered during an illegal search and seizure in violation of your Fourth Amendment rights.

See our related article on juvenile offenses in Colorado.

Colorado Legal Defense Group
4047 Tejon Street
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 222-0330

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