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Legislation would strengthen firearm training requirements for concealed carry permits to ensure responsible gun ownership
DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation in a preliminary vote to strengthen firearm training requirements for concealed carry permits to promote responsible firearm ownership and protect Colorado communities from gun violence.
“States that have eliminated their live-fire training requirements to receive a concealed carry permit saw a 32 percent increase in gun assaults,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. "The data is clear - live-fire gun training can save lives. This important legislation will ensure that Coloradans with concealed carry permits are properly trained before they bring their firearm into their communities.”
“When I received my concealed carry permit years ago, I was surprised to learn that Colorado law did not require live-fire training, a necessary skill to have before carrying a gun in public spaces," said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs. "Our bill would create a minimum requirement for concealed carry permit holders, including in-person live-fire training with a certified firearms instructor, to ensure that concealed carry permits are issued with appropriate training. Our commonsense gun violence prevention legislation works to prevent senseless gun deaths by improving firearm training.”
In Colorado, a person can be issued a concealed carry permit if they complete a handgun training class by a verified firearms safety instructor, pass a background check, and demonstrate competence with a handgun.
HB24-1174 would require handgun training classes to be held in-person and include training on safe handling of firearms and ammunition, safe storage of firearms and child safety, safe firearms shooting fundamentals, federal and state firearm laws, state laws related to the use of deadly force for self-defense, interacting with law enforcement who are responding to emergencies, and techniques for conflict resolution and judgmental use of lethal force. Under the bill, the handgun training class would include at least eight hours of instruction, including a live-fire exercise and a written exam that the student must receive passing scores on.
The bill would also require a concealed handgun refresher class (refresher class) to be completed in order to renew a concealed carry permit. This refresher class must be at least two hours, including a passing score on both the live-fire exercise and written exam. The refresher class must also include instruction on changes to federal or state firearm laws.
HB24-1174 prohibits a person from being issued a permit if they have been convicted of certain misdemeanor offenses within five years of submitting a concealed carry permit application. The bill also makes it a deceptive trade practice for a person to claim to be a verified firearms safety instructor unless they have been verified by a county sheriff.
Majority Leader Duran sponsored a 2021 law that promotes responsible gun ownership by ensuring that gun owners properly store their firearms when they are not in use, especially when children are present.