Under CRS § 18-12-105.5, Colorado law makes it a felony to possess a deadly weapon on the grounds of any public or private school. A conviction is punishable by 1 to 1 ½ years in prison (with one-year mandatory parole), and/or a fine of up to $100,000.
These penalties for possessing a weapon on school grounds are separate from and in addition to any punishment for using the weapon or committing another violation of Colorado gun laws or any other crime while in possession of the weapon.
To help you better understand the consequences of possessing a weapon at a school, our Denver Colorado criminal defense lawyers discuss, below:
- 1. What does 18-12-105.5 C.R.S. prohibit?
- 2. Penalties for possessing a deadly weapon at a school
- 3. Defenses to possession of a deadly weapon at a school
CRS 18-12-105.5 prohibits deadly weapons on school property.
1. What does 18-12-105.5 C.R.S. prohibit?
Section 18-12-105.5 C.R.S. of the Colorado criminal code makes it a crime to knowingly possess a deadly weapon on the grounds of any public or private:
- elementary school,
- middle school,
- junior high school,
- high school,
- vocational school,
- college,
- university, or
- seminary.
Note that it is not against Colorado law for CCW permit-holders to carry concealed handguns at colleges and universities. But note that private institutions can put limits on concealed carry. And public institutions may be able to ban concealed carry through contractual relationships in certain facilities.
1.1. Colorado’s definition of a “deadly weapon”
For purposes of Colorado 18-12-105.5 C.R.S., a “deadly weapon” is defined as:
- A firearm, whether loaded or unloaded; or
- A knife, bludgeon, or any other weapon, device, instrument, material, or substance, whether animate or inanimate, that, in the manner it is used or intended to be used, is capable of producing death or serious bodily injury.1
1.2. The legal definition of “knowingly”
A person acts “knowingly” with respect to conduct or to a circumstance described by a statute defining an offense when he is aware that his conduct is of such nature or that such circumstance exists.2
So you act knowingly under 18-12-105.5 C.R.S. when you know that you possess an item on school grounds, even if you don’t know that it meets the Colorado legal definition of a deadly weapon.
1.3. Who may lawfully possess a deadly weapon on school grounds?
People with current and recognized CCW permits may carry concealed handguns on college and university grounds, but there may be limits. Private institutions can ban conceal carry. And public institutions may be able to ban it in certain facilities such as dorms through “contractual relationships.”
Otherwise, a person may lawfully possess a gun or other deadly weapon on school grounds if:
- The weapon is unloaded and remains inside a motor vehicle while upon the real estate of any public or private college, university, or seminary; or
- The person is in that person’s own dwelling or place of business or on property owned or under that person’s control at the time of the act of carrying; or
- The person is in a private automobile or other private means of conveyance and is carrying a weapon for lawful protection of that person’s or another’s person or property while traveling; or
- The person is a school resource officer or a peace officer carrying a weapon in conformance with the policy of the employing agency; or
- The person has possession of the weapon for use in an educational program approved by a school which program includes, but shall not be limited to, any course designed for the repair or maintenance of weapons; or
- The person, at the time of carrying a concealed weapon, held a valid written permit to carry the concealed weapon AND:
- The weapon remains in the permittee’s vehicle and, if the permittee is not in the vehicle, the weapon is in a compartment within the vehicle and the vehicle is locked; or
- The permittee is employed or retained by contract by a school district or charter school is a school security officer who is on duty; or
- The permittee has a concealed handgun on undeveloped real property owned by a school district that is used for hunting or other shooting sports.
Having a deadly weapon on school property is a felony in Colorado.
2. Penalties for possessing a deadly weapon at a school
Unlawful possession of a deadly weapon at a school is a Colorado class 6 felony. Punishment for possessing a deadly weapon on school grounds can include:
- 1 – 1 ½ years in prison (with one-year mandatory parole), and/or
- A fine of $1,000-$100,000.
3. Defenses to possession of a deadly weapon at a school
You are not guilty under 18-12-105.5 C.R.S. unless the weapon was deadly and you knowingly brought it onto school grounds.
So common defenses to possessing a weapon on school grounds often include:
- You possessed a small, legal knife (such as a pocket knife) but did not intend to use it as a weapon;3
- You didn’t know you had the weapon on you;
- You didn’t know you were on school grounds;
- The weapon was lawfully in your car at all times;
- You were lawfully permitted to bring the weapon onto school grounds;
- You didn’t know you had the weapon due to diminished capacity / insanity; or
- The weapon was discovered during an illegal search and seizure in violation of your Fourth Amendment rights.
Call our law firm for legal advice. We offer free consultations.
Innocent people often get charged with carrying a gun on school grounds simply because they forgot they had the weapon. Others mistakenly believe their weapon is not prohibited, or that their need for self-defense is an exception. And yet that one mistake is enough to get them sent to prison or juvenile hall.
Whatever the reason, we will listen and present your side of things to the prosecutor and, if necessary, the jury.
If you have been accused of violating Colorado’s gun, knife or other weapons laws, we invite you to contact us for a free consultation.
To reach us simply fill out the confidential form on this page. Or call us at our Denver home office:
Colorado Legal Defense Group
4047 Tejon Street
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 222-0330
Arrested in Nevada? See our article about possessing weapons on school property in Nevada.
Legal resources:
- CRS 18-12-105.5. The full language of the code section states that:
(1) A person commits a class 6 felony if such person knowingly and unlawfully and without legal authority carries, brings, or has in such person’s possession a deadly weapon as defined in section 18-1-901(3)(e) in or on the real estate and all improvements erected thereon of any public or private elementary, middle, junior high, high, or vocational school or any public or private college, university, or seminary, except for the purpose of presenting an authorized public demonstration or exhibition pursuant to instruction in conjunction with an organized school or class, for the purpose of carrying out the necessary duties and functions of an employee of an educational institution that require the use of a deadly weapon, or for the purpose of participation in an authorized extracurricular activity or on an athletic team.
(2) Deleted by Laws 2000, Ch. 171, § 45, eff. July 1, 2000.
(3) It shall not be an offense under this section if:
(a) The weapon is unloaded and remains inside a motor vehicle while upon the real estate of any public or private college, university, or seminary; or
(b) The person is in that person’s own dwelling or place of business or on property owned or under that person’s control at the time of the act of carrying; or
(c) The person is in a private automobile or other private means of conveyance and is carrying a weapon for lawful protection of that person’s or another’s person or property while traveling; or
(d) The person, at the time of carrying a concealed weapon, held a valid written permit to carry a concealed weapon issued pursuant to section 18-12-105.1, as said section existed prior to its repeal; except that it shall be an offense under this section if the person was carrying a concealed handgun in violation of the provisions of section 18-12-214(3); or
(d.5) The weapon involved was a handgun and the person held a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun or a temporary emergency permit issued pursuant to part 2 of this article; except that it shall be an offense under this section if the person was carrying a concealed handgun in violation of the provisions of section 18-12-214(3); or
(e) The person is a school resource officer, as defined in section 22-32-109.1(1)(g.5), C.R.S., or a peace officer, as described in section 16-2.5-101, C.R.S., when carrying a weapon in conformance with the policy of the employing agency as provided in section 16-2.5-101(2), C.R.S.; or
(f) Deleted by Laws 2003, Ch. 242, § 51, eff. Aug. 6, 2003.
(g) Deleted by Laws 2003, Ch. 242, § 51, eff. Aug. 6, 2003.
(h) The person has possession of the weapon for use in an educational program approved by a school which program includes, but shall not be limited to, any course designed for the repair or maintenance of weapons.
See also 18-1-901 (3)(e) C.R.S.
- 18-1-501 (6) C.R.S.
- Regents of the Univ. of Colo. v. Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, LLC, (2012) 271 P.3d 496 (“Under the CCA [Colorado Concealed Carry Act], when a permit is issued, the permittee is authorized “to carry a concealed handgun in all areas of the state, except as specifically limited” by the statute. § 18-12-214(1)(a). One specific limitation prohibits permittees from “carry[ing] a concealed handgun onto the real property, or into any improvements erected thereon, of a public elementary, middle, junior high, or high school.” § 18-12-214(3). Section 18-12-214(3) does not include an exception for the University of Colorado campuses. A “local government” is prohibited from “adopt[ing] or enforc[ing] an ordinance or resolution that would conflict with any provision of [the CCA].” § 18-12-214(1).”); see People ex rel. J.W.T., App.2004, 93 P.3d 580, rehearing denied; CRS 18-12-214 (“(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; except that: (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; (b) A permittee who is employed or retained by contract by a school district or charter school as a school security officer may carry a concealed handgun onto the real property, or into any improvement erected thereon, of a public elementary, middle, junior high, or high school while the permittee is on duty; (c) A permittee may carry a concealed handgun on undeveloped real property owned by a school district that is used for hunting or other shooting sports.”).