State Gun Laws

While a protection order is in effect, if the respondent possesses, or attempts to possess, a firearm or ammunition, s/he has committed the crime of violation of a protection order, which is a class 2 misdemeanor. It can be a class 1 misdemeanor if any of the following are true:

• the abuser was previously convicted of violating a protection order;
• the protection order was issued as part of a criminal case and meets the requirements in section 18-1-1001 of the law;
• the basis for issuing the protection order included an allegation of stalking; or
• the parties were in an intimate relationship.¹

The punishment for a class 2 misdemeanor is up to three months imprisonment, a fine of up to $750, or both. The punishment for a class 1 misdemeanor is up to 12 months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.²

If someone who was convicted of a felony, or attempt or conspiracy to commit a felony, is in possession of a firearm, it can be a class 5 or 6 felony depending on the underlying felony conviction, the length of time since that felony conviction, and other factors.³ The punishment for a class 5 felony is between one and three years, a fine of between $1,000 and $100,000, or both. The punishment for a class 6 felony is between one and one and a half years, a fine of between $1,000 and $100,000, or both.⁴

Also, anyone who has or buys a gun in violation of the federal firearm law can be punished by a fine, jail time for up to ten years, or both.⁵ For more information, see our Federal Gun Laws page.

¹ Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-6-803.5(2)(a)
² Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-1.3-501(1)(a.5)
³ Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-108
⁴ Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-1.3-401(1)(a)(V)(A), (1)(a)(III)(A), (1)(a)(V.5)(A)
⁵ 18 USC § 924(a)(2)