Is Colorado a Constitutional Carry State?
Woody's answers are based on published federal and state law. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for your specific situation.
No, Colorado is not a constitutional carry state. You need a concealed carry permit to legally carry a concealed handgun in Colorado.
What This Means for You
Colorado requires permits for concealed carry, which means you can't just build a pistol and expect to carry it without going through the permitting process first. Open carry is generally allowed without a permit in most areas, but concealed carry requires you to obtain a Concealed Handgun Permit from your county sheriff. The state has specific training and background check requirements that you'll need to complete.
The Detail
Colorado operates under a shall-issue concealed carry system rather than constitutional carry. This means the state requires you to obtain a Concealed Handgun Permit before you can legally carry a concealed firearm. The permit process involves submitting an application to your county sheriff, completing required training, passing a background check, and paying applicable fees.
Open carry is generally permitted in Colorado without a permit for those legally allowed to possess firearms, but there are significant restrictions on where you can open carry. Many municipalities have their own ordinances prohibiting open carry within city limits, and certain locations like schools, government buildings, and private properties that post restrictions are off-limits.
The state does have reciprocity agreements with many other states for concealed carry permits, but you should verify current reciprocity status before traveling. Colorado also has specific restrictions on magazine capacity and requires background checks for private transfers in most cases.
If you're planning to carry any firearm you build in Colorado, you need to understand both the carry laws and the specific regulations around home-built firearms. The state requires compliance with federal regulations regarding serialization and prohibited persons, and local jurisdictions may have additional restrictions.
Build Impact
When building pistols in Colorado, factor in the time and cost of obtaining your concealed carry permit if you plan to carry the finished firearm. You'll also need to ensure any pistol build complies with the state's magazine capacity restrictions and other local regulations that might affect your build choices.