A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning requirements for gun shows.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill requires a gun show promoter to prepare a security plan and submit the security plan to each local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the gun show. The bill places certain requirements on a gun show promoter, including requiring the promoter to:
- Have liability insurance for the gun show;
- Implement security measures at the gun show;
- Prohibit persons under 21 years of age from entering the gun show unless the person is accompanied by a parent, grandparent, or guardian;
- For each customer who leaves with a purchased firearm, verify that each firearm sold at a gun show is delivered in compliance with the required the 3-day waiting period; and
- Post certain notices at the gun show.
Violating any of these provisions is unlawful gun show management, which is a class 2 misdemeanor; except that a second or subsequent offense is a class 1 misdemeanor and, in addition to a criminal penalty, the promoter is prohibited from acting as a gun show promoter for 5 years.
The bill prohibits a person from participating in a gun show as a gun show vendor if the person is not a federal firearms licencee, does not hold a valid state firearms dealer permit, has been convicted of a second offense of unlawful gun show vendor activity as described in the bill, or has not completed a gun show certification for the gun show promoter as required in the bill. Unlawful participation in a gun show as a gun show vendor is a class 2 misdemeanor; except that a second or subsequent offense is a class 1 misdemeanor.
Before participating in a gun show, a gun show vendor is required to certify to the gun show promoter that the vendor satisfies the requirements to be a gun show vendor and will comply with federal, state, and local laws while participating in the gun show.
While participating in a gun show, a gun show vendor shall display copies of the vendor's federal firearms license and state firearms dealer permit, keep firearms unloaded and securely affixed to the vendor's countertop or wall, secure ammunition in an enclosed display case or behind the vendor's counter or other customer access prevention device, and include with each sold firearm written information describing secure storage and lost or stolen firearm reporting requirements in state law. Unlawful gun show vendor activity is a class 2 misdemeanor; except that a second or subsequent offense is a class 1 misdemeanor and the person is prohibited from participating as a vendor at a gun show.
The bill maintains the requirement in existing law that a gun show vendor conduct a background check for each firearm transfer at a gun show.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that:
Page 2, Line 3(a) Gun violence remains a significant threat to public safety in
Page 2, Line 4Colorado, causing harm to individuals, families, and communities across
Page 3, Line 1the state. Effectively addressing gun violence requires a comprehensive
Page 3, Line 2strategy that includes both preventing illegal firearm transfers and ensuring responsible ownership practices.
Page 3, Line 3(b) Gun shows serve as important venues for the lawful sale and
Page 3, Line 4transfer of firearms. However, these events present unique challenges for
Page 3, Line 5regulating the movement of firearms and preventing illegal trafficking.
Page 3, Line 6While gun shows are lawful and cater primarily to responsible gun
Page 3, Line 7owners, they can also provide opportunities for firearms to be transferred
Page 3, Line 8without proper oversight, potentially leading to unlawful possession and misuse.
Page 3, Line 9(c) It is essential for Colorado to implement strong regulatory
Page 3, Line 10measures at gun shows to mitigate the risks associated with unregulated
Page 3, Line 11or improper firearm transfers and the unlawful sale of large-capacity
Page 3, Line 12magazines, including magazines that are designed to be readily converted
Page 3, Line 13to accept more than 15 rounds of ammunition, and unserialized firearms
Page 3, Line 14or frames or receivers of a firearm. The regulatory measures include the
Page 3, Line 15requirement for gun show promoters and vendors to follow security
Page 3, Line 16protocols, conduct background checks, and ensure firearms are stored and handled safely.
Page 3, Line 17(d) This legislation requires gun show promoters to develop and
Page 3, Line 18implement security plans, secure liability coverage, and verify that
Page 3, Line 19firearms are sold or transferred in compliance with state and federal laws.
Page 3, Line 20In addition, vendors are required to comply with mandatory background
Page 3, Line 21checks and adhere to federal, state, and local firearm laws and proper firearm storage practices.
Page 3, Line 22(e) By fostering responsible practices at gun shows, Colorado can
Page 3, Line 23reduce the potential for illegal firearm trafficking and decrease the likelihood that firearms will be misused in criminal acts or violence; and
Page 4, Line 1(f) Reducing gun violence and ensuring the safe and lawful
Page 4, Line 2transfer of firearms is a shared responsibility between the state, local
Page 4, Line 3governments, and communities. This act represents a step toward
Page 4, Line 4ensuring the safety of all Coloradans, while balancing the rights of responsible gun owners.
Page 4, Line 5(2) Therefore, the general assembly declares that regulating gun
Page 4, Line 6shows to ensure the safety, security, and lawful transfer of firearms is of
Page 4, Line 7both local and statewide concern, aimed at reducing gun violence and promoting responsible firearm ownership practices throughout Colorado.
Page 4, Line 8SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal and reenact, with amendments, part 5 of article 12 of title 18 as follows:
Page 4, Line 9PART 5
GUN SHOWS
Page 4, Line 1018-12-501. Definitions. [Similar to former 18-12-506
Page 4, Line 11introductory portion] As used in this part 5, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 4, Line 12(1) [Similar to former 18-12-506 (1)] "Collection" means a trade, barter, or in-kind exchange for one or more firearms.
Page 4, Line 13(2) "Gun collectors show" means an event or function
Page 4, Line 14that is sponsored to facilitate the purchase, sale, offer for sale,
Page 4, Line 15or collection of only curios or relics, as defined in 27 CFR
Page 4, Line 16478.11, or antique firearms, as defined in 18 U.S.C. sec. 921 (a)(16),
Page 4, Line 17and not any other type of firearm. A gun collectors show may also include vendors that sell products that are not firearms.
Page 4, Line 18(3) (a) [Similar to former 18-12-506 (3)] "Gun show" means
Page 4, Line 19the entire premises provided for an event or function, including,
Page 5, Line 1but not limited to, parking areas for the event or function,
Page 5, Line 2except for adjacent street parking, that is sponsored to
Page 5, Line 3facilitate, in whole or in part, the purchase, sale, offer for sale, or collection of firearms at which:
Page 5, Line 4(I) Twenty-five or more firearms are offered or publicly exhibited for sale, transfer, or exchange; or
Page 5, Line 5(II) Not less than three gun show vendors publicly exhibit or sell, offer for sale, transfer, or exchange firearms.
Page 5, Line 6(b) "Gun show" does not include a gun collectors show.
Page 5, Line 7(4) "Gun show parking area" means the parking area that
Page 5, Line 8is on the same property as the gun show venue or that is
Page 5, Line 9adjacent to the venue and under control of the company that
Page 5, Line 10owns or operates the venue. "Gun show parking area" does not include adjacent street parking.
Page 5, Line 11(5) [Similar to former 18-12-506 (4)] "Gun show promoter" means a person who organizes or operates a gun show.
Page 5, Line 12(6) (a) [Similar to former 18-12-506 (5)] "Gun show vendor"
Page 5, Line 13means any person who publicly exhibits or sells, offers for sale,
Page 5, Line 14transfers, or exchanges any firearm at a gun show, regardless
Page 5, Line 15of whether the person arranges with a gun show promoter for a
Page 5, Line 16fixed location from which to publicly exhibit or sell, offer for sale, transfer, or exchange any firearm.
Page 5, Line 17(b) "Gun show vendor" does not include a person who is
Page 5, Line 18not a federal firearms licensee who sells, offers for sale, or
Page 5, Line 19transfers a firearm to, or exchanges a firearm with, a gun show
Page 5, Line 20vendor who is a federal firearms licensee at a gun show,
Page 5, Line 21including transferring a firearm to a gun show vendor who is a
Page 6, Line 1federal firearms licensee for sale on consignment or to facilitate a private firearm transfer.
Page 6, Line 2(7) "Local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over
Page 6, Line 3the gun show" means a town marshal's office, police department,
Page 6, Line 4or sheriff's office whose jurisdiction includes the area in which a gun show occurs.
Page 6, Line 5(8) "State firearms dealer permit" means a state firearms dealer permit described in section 18-12-401.5.
Page 6, Line 618-12-502. Gun show promoters - requirements - penalties.
Page 6, Line 7(1) (a) For each gun show organized and operated by a gun show
Page 6, Line 8promoter, the promoter shall prepare a security plan. The security plan must include:
Page 6, Line 9(I) A list of gun show vendors who will participate in the gun show;
Page 6, Line 10(II) The estimated number of attendees;
Page 6, Line 11(III) The number of security personnel retained by the gun
Page 6, Line 12show promoter to provide security at the gun show, including
Page 6, Line 13the number of security personnel who are certified by the peace
Page 6, Line 14officer standards and training board created in section 24-31-302; and
Page 6, Line 15(IV) A floor plan or layout of the event that includes
Page 6, Line 16information about the location of the entrances and exits and
Page 6, Line 17the location of video cameras that provide video surveillance of the gun show.
Page 6, Line 18(b) Pursuant to subsection (2)(a)(II) of this section, a gun
Page 6, Line 19show promoter shall submit the security plan to each local law
Page 6, Line 20enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the gun show.
Page 7, Line 1(2) (a) For each gun show organized and operated by a promoter, the promoter shall:
Page 7, Line 2(I) Have in full force and effect a liability insurance
Page 7, Line 3policy that covers losses or damages of at least one million
Page 7, Line 4dollars to all persons, arising from an incident that results in
Page 7, Line 5injury to a person other than the insured, while the person is in
Page 7, Line 6attendance at the gun show. The liability insurance policy must
Page 7, Line 7be from an insurer authorized to do business in Colorado or a nonadmitted insurer, as defined in section 10-5-101.2.
Page 7, Line 8(II) No later than fourteen days before the gun show,
Page 7, Line 9submit the security plan required by subsection (1) of this
Page 7, Line 10section to each local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the gun show;
Page 7, Line 12(III) Obtain, at least three days before the gun show, and
Page 7, Line 13retain for six months after the gun show a certification from
Page 7, Line 14each gun show vendor that complies with the requirements of section 18-12-504;
Page 7, Line 15(IV) Ensure that all entrances and exits, including fire
Page 7, Line 16exits, are either guarded by security personnel or equipped with an alarm system;
Page 7, Line 17(V) Provide video surveillance of the gun show parking
Page 7, Line 18area and of the main entrance and main exit during the entire
Page 7, Line 19time a gun show promoter has access to the venue, including
Page 7, Line 20during vendor setup and takedown, and maintain recordings of
Page 7, Line 21the surveillance for six months after the gun show. If the venue
Page 7, Line 22conducts video surveillance of the gun show parking area, the
Page 8, Line 1gun show promoter is not required to provide additional video
Page 8, Line 2surveillance, but the promoter must retain the video
Page 8, Line 3surveillance recordings for six months after the gun show as required in this subsection(2)(a)(V).
Page 8, Line 4(VI) Ensure that each firearm brought into the gun show
Page 8, Line 5by a person other than a gun show vendor, security personnel,
Page 8, Line 6or the gun show promoter is checked and tagged. The tag must
Page 8, Line 7state that all firearm transfers between private parties at the
Page 8, Line 8show must be conducted through a licensed dealer. In order to
Page 8, Line 9bring a firearm into a gun show, a person must sign the tag and
Page 8, Line 10the tag must remain on the firearm for the entire time the firearm is at the gun show.
Page 8, Line 11(VII) Prohibit a person under the age of eighteen from
Page 8, Line 12entering the gun show unless the person is accompanied by a
Page 8, Line 13parent, grandparent, or guardian;except that a promoter may
Page 8, Line 14allow a member of the United States armed forces or Colorado
Page 8, Line 15National Guard who is on active duty and who is under eighteen
Page 8, Line 16years of age to enter the gun show without a parent,
Page 8, Line 17grandparent, or guardian upon the member presenting a valid
Page 8, Line 18military identification card that demonstrates that the person
Page 8, Line 19is a member of the United States armed forces or Colorado National Guard;
Page 8, Line 20(VIII) For each customer who leaves the gun show with a
Page 8, Line 21purchased firearm, check that the firearm was delivered in
Page 8, Line 22compliance with the waiting period required in section 18-12-115
Page 8, Line 23by requiring a person leaving the gun show with a purchased
Page 8, Line 24firearm to demonstrate that the waiting period was complied with or that an exception applies; and
Page 9, Line 1(IX) Post the following notices at each entrance and conspicuously at locations throughout the gun show:
Page 9, Line 2(A) A notice that states: "No one may transfer a firearm
Page 9, Line 3without first obtaining a background check through a licensed
Page 9, Line 4gun dealer if any part of the transaction occurs on these
Page 9, Line 5premises, including the parking facilities. Section 18-12-506, Colorado Revised Statutes"; and
Page 9, Line 6(B) A notice that a firearm left in an unattended vehicle
Page 9, Line 7is required to be secured in the vehicle in accordance with section 18-12-114.5.
Page 9, Line 8(b) A gun show promoter who violates a requirement
Page 9, Line 9described in subsection (2)(a) of this section commits unlawful
Page 9, Line 10gun show management. Unlawful gun show management is a
Page 9, Line 11class 2 misdemeanor; except that a second or subsequent offense
Page 9, Line 12is a class 1 misdemeanor and, in addition to a penalty imposed in
Page 9, Line 13accordance with section 18-1.3-501, the promoter is also
Page 9, Line 14prohibited from acting as a gun show promoter for five years,
Page 9, Line 15beginning on the date of the conviction for the second or subsequent offense.
Page 9, Line 1618-12-503. Gun show vendors - federal firearms license and
Page 9, Line 17state firearms dealer permit required - penalty. (1) (a) A gun show
Page 9, Line 18vendor must be a federal firearms licensee and hold a valid
Page 9, Line 19state firearms dealer permit. A person who is not a federal
Page 9, Line 20firearms licensee and does not hold a valid state firearms
Page 9, Line 21dealer permit shall not participate in a gun show as a gun show
Page 9, Line 22vendor.
Page 10, Line 1(b) A person who has been convicted of a second offense
Page 10, Line 2of unlawful gun show vendor activity described in section
Page 10, Line 318-12-505 shall not participate in a gun show as a gun show vendor.
Page 10, Line 4(c) A person who has not completed the certification to
Page 10, Line 5the gun show promoter described in section 18-12-504, including
Page 10, Line 6attaching a copy of the vendor's federal firearms license and
Page 10, Line 7state firearms dealer permit to the certification, shall not participate in a gun show as a gun show vendor.
Page 10, Line 8(2) A person who violates this section commits unlawful
Page 10, Line 9participation in a gun show as a gun show vendor. Unlawful
Page 10, Line 10participation in a gun show as a gun show vendor is a class 2
Page 10, Line 11misdemeanor; except that a second or subsequent offense is a class 1 misdemeanor.
Page 10, Line 1218-12-504. Gun show vendor certification. (1) A gun show
Page 10, Line 13vendor shall certify the following to a gun show promoter, in a form determined by the gun show promoter:
Page 10, Line 14Gun Show Vendor
Certification of Compliance
Page 10, Line 15As a vendor of firearms or firearm
Page 10, Line 16components at the gun show operated by
Page 10, Line 17[promoter's name] to be held [date or dates of gun
Page 10, Line 18show] in [city or town, if applicable], _______
Page 10, Line 19county, Colorado, I certify to the promoter of the gun show that:
Page 10, Line 20I am a federal firearms licensee and I am
Page 10, Line 21permitted by the state of Colorado to sell firearms at retail.
Page 11, Line 1I will display a copy of the federal license and state permit at my booth at the gun show.
Page 11, Line 2I have never been convicted of illegal activity involving firearms.
Page 11, Line 3I will ensure that all firearms and frames or
Page 11, Line 4receivers of firearms sold by me at the gun show
Page 11, Line 5will be preceded by a background check of the
Page 11, Line 6purchaser and comply with the three-day waiting period required in state law.
Page 11, Line 7I will display and offer for sale or transfer
Page 11, Line 8ammunition in compliance with any applicable state or federal law.
Page 11, Line 9I will not sell or transfer any weapons or
Page 11, Line 10ammunition that I am prohibited from selling
Page 11, Line 11pursuant to federal or state law, including, but not limited to:
Page 11, Line 12Ammunition magazines that allow for more than 15 rounds of ammunition;
Page 11, Line 13Firearms that have fixed magazines that allow for more than 15 rounds of ammunition;
Page 11, Line 15Firearms or frames or receivers of a firearm,
Page 11, Line 16including unfinished frames or receivers, that are unserialized; and
Page 11, Line 17Dangerous weapons, as defined in section
Page 11, Line 1818-12-102, C.R.S., and illegal weapons, as defined in
Page 12, Line 1section 18-12-102, C.R.S., unless the transferee presents a valid permit for possession of the weapon.
Page 12, Line 2Furthermore, I am aware of additional
Page 12, Line 3prohibited items in the city or town and county in
Page 12, Line 4which the gun show will be held, and I will not engage in the sale of those items.
Page 12, Line 5I understand that if I sell prohibited items or
Page 12, Line 6conduct sales in dangerous or illegal weapons
Page 12, Line 7without the transferee presenting a valid permit, I
Page 12, Line 8may be subject to criminal penalties under federal,
Page 12, Line 9state, or local laws and may be prohibited from
Page 12, Line 10participating in future gun shows in the state of Colorado.
Page 12, Line 11Vendor Printed Name:________________
Vendor Signature:________________
Page 12, Line 12Date:_______________
Page 12, Line 13(2) A gun show vendor shall attach a copy of the vendor's
Page 12, Line 14federal firearms license and state firearms dealer permit to the certification.
Page 12, Line 1518-12-505. Gun show vendors - requirements - penalties. (1) While participating in a gun show, a gun show vendor shall:
Page 12, Line 16(a) Prominently display a copy of the vendor's federal
Page 12, Line 17firearms license and a copy of the vendor's state firearms
Page 12, Line 18dealer permit at the vendor's primary place of business at the gun show;
Page 12, Line 19(b) Keep all firearms in the vendor's possession unloaded
Page 12, Line 20and securely affixed to the vendor's countertop or wall by use of a plastic tie or electronically monitored wire;
Page 13, Line 1(c) Display and offer for sale or transfer ammunition in compliance with any applicable state or federal law; and
Page 13, Line 2(d) Include with each sold firearm the following information, in writing:
Page 13, Line 3Firearms storage and reporting requirements:
Page 13, Line 4Firearms must be responsibly and securely stored
Page 13, Line 5when they are not in use to prevent access by
Page 13, Line 6unsupervised juveniles and other unauthorized users. Section 18-12-114, C.R.S.
Page 13, Line 7Firearms left in an unattended vehicle must be
Page 13, Line 8stored in accordance with state law. Section 18-12-114.5, C.R.S.
Page 13, Line 9If a firearm is lost or stolen, the owner of the
Page 13, Line 10firearm must report the loss or theft to a law
Page 13, Line 11enforcement agency not more than five days after
Page 13, Line 12discovering that the firearm has been lost or stolen. Section 18-12-113. C.R.S.
Page 13, Line 13(2) A gun show vendor who violates this section commits
Page 13, Line 14unlawful gun show vendor activity. Unlawful gun show vendor
Page 13, Line 15activity is a class 2 misdemeanor; except that a second or
Page 13, Line 16subsequent offense is a class 1 misdemeanor and, pursuant to
Page 13, Line 17section 18-12-503 (1)(b), the person who has committed a second
Page 13, Line 18or subsequent offense of unlawful gun show vendor activity is prohibited from participating as a vendor at a gun show.
Page 13, Line 1918-12-506. Background checks at gun shows - records - fees -
Page 13, Line 20notice posted by promoter - penalties - definition. (1) (a) [Similar to
Page 14, Line 1former 18-12-501 (1)] Before a gun show vendor transfers or
Page 14, Line 2attempts to transfer a firearm at a gun show, the vendor shall:
Page 14, Line 3(I) Require that a background check, in accordance with
Page 14, Line 4section 24-33.5-424, be conducted of the prospective transferee; and
Page 14, Line 5(II) Obtain approval of a transfer from the Colorado
Page 14, Line 6bureau of investigation after a background check has been
Page 14, Line 7requested by a licensed gun dealer, in accordance with section 24-33.5-424.
Page 14, Line 8(b) [Similar to former 18-12-501 (2)] A gun show promoter
Page 14, Line 9shall arrange for the services of one or more licensed gun
Page 14, Line 10dealers on the premises of the gun show to obtain the background checks required by this section.
Page 14, Line 11(c) [Similar to former 18-12-501 (3)] If any part of a firearm
Page 14, Line 12transaction takes place at a gun show, the transferor shall not
Page 14, Line 13transfer the firearm unless a background check has been obtained by a licensed gun dealer.
Page 14, Line 14(d) [Similar to former 18-12-501 (4)] A person who violates this subsection (1) commits a class 1 misdemeanor.
Page 14, Line 15(2) [Similar to former 18-12-502] (a) A licensed gun dealer
Page 14, Line 16who obtains a background check on a prospective transferee
Page 14, Line 17shall record the transfer, as required in section 18-12-402, and
Page 14, Line 18retain the records, as required in section 18-12-403, in the same
Page 14, Line 19manner as when conducting a sale, rental, or exchange at retail.
Page 14, Line 20(b) Any individual who knowingly gives false information
Page 14, Line 21in connection with the making of the records described in this subsection (2) commits a class 1 misdemeanor.
Page 15, Line 1(3) Reserved.
Page 15, Line 2(4) [Similar to former 18-12-504] (a) A gun show promoter
Page 15, Line 3shall prominently post a notice, in a form to be prescribed by the
Page 15, Line 4executive director of the department of public safety or the
Page 15, Line 5executive director's designee, setting forth the requirement for a background check required in this section.
Page 15, Line 6(b) A gun show promoter who violates this subsection (4) commits a class 2 misdemeanor.
Page 15, Line 7(5) [Similar to former 18-12-505] This section does not apply
Page 15, Line 8to the transfer of an antique firearm, as defined in 18 U.S.C. sec.921(a)(16), or a curio or relic, as defined in 27 CFR sec.478.11.
Page 15, Line 9(6) [Similar to former 18-12-506 (6)] As used in this section,
Page 15, Line 10unless the context otherwise requires, "licensed gun dealer"
Page 15, Line 11means any person who is a licensed importer, licensed
Page 15, Line 12manufacturer, or dealer licensed pursuant to 18 U.S.C. sec. 923, as a federally licensed firearms dealer.
Page 15, Line 13(7) [Similar to former 18-12-507] The general assembly shall appropriate money as necessary to implement this section.
Page 15, Line 14SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-12-406, amend as it will become effective July 1, 2025, (3)(a) as follows:
Page 15, Line 1518-12-406. Requirements for firearms dealers - training -
Page 15, Line 16securing firearms - sale outside of business hours prohibited - rules - penalty. (3) A dealer shall not sell or transfer a firearm:
Page 15, Line 17(a) Outside of the dealer's posted business hours; except that a
Page 15, Line 18dealer may sell or transfer a firearm at a gun show, as defined in
sectionPage 15, Line 19
18-12-506Page 16, Line 1SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-37-103, amend (6) as follows:
Page 16, Line 239-37-103. Definitions. As used in this article 37, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 16, Line 3(6) "Firearm" or "gun" means a firearm as defined in section
Page 16, Line 418-12-101 (1)(b.7) and any instrument or device described in section 18-1-901 (3)(h) or 18-12-401 (1)(a).
or 18-12-506 (2).Page 16, Line 5SECTION 5. Act subject to petition - effective date -
Page 16, Line 6applicability. (1) This act takes effect January 1, 2026; except that, if a
Page 16, Line 7referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the
Page 16, Line 8state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act
Page 16, Line 9within the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general
Page 16, Line 10assembly, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless
Page 16, Line 11approved by the people at the general election to be held in November
Page 16, Line 122026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.
Page 16, Line 13(2) This act applies to gun shows held on or after the applicable effective date of this act.