Pikes Peak Firearms Coalition

Colorado 2002 Firearm Legislation

(Updated 05/08/02:0640)

The GOOD and BAD ratings are by Bernie Herpin after reading the bills and taking into consideration what others have said. You can get the latest list of firearm bills, their status, and download a copy by clicking here: Firearm Bills (Note: This does a search of all bills looking for the words "firearm", "weapon", or "handgun". Some bills contain these words, but are not relevant to pro-gun rights people. You will need to read the titles to make sure you are getting info that you want.)

bullet Senate Bill 02-060: Concealed Handgun Permits (GOOD) by Senator Chlouber and Representative White. Declares the issue of concealed handgun permits to be a matter of statewide concern. Requires any sheriff to issue a concealed handgun permit to anyone who is at least 21 years of age, is a Colorado resident, and meets specified firearms training requirements, passes a background check, has not been convicted of or adjudicated for a felony or certain misdemeanors and the applicant is not subject to unresolved criminal proceedings, chronically or habitually using alcohol or controlled substances, a danger due to mental problems, or otherwise a danger to self or others. Specifies that any concealed handgun permit issued by this state, or by another state pursuant to a comparable statute (if they recognize Colorado permits), is valid in all areas of this state. Restricts carrying on any elementary, junior high school, or high school ground (unless person remains in vehicle or handgun is locked away if person leaves vehicle). Read Text of Bill (Requires Acrobat Reader)

Status:
bullet Introduced 1/10 and assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee
bullet Postponed Indefinitely (killed) by Senate Judiciary Committee by a 4-3 vote on 2/13

bullet Senate Bill 02-116: Concerning the Definition of "Deadly Weapon" (GOOD) by Senator Hillman and Representative Hefley. Clarifies a "bee-bee" gun or pellet gun is not a deadly weapon unless used to cause death or bodily injury. Read Text of Bill (Requires Acrobat Reader)

Status:
bullet Introduced 1/24 and assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee
bullet Postponed Indefinitely (killed) by Senate Judiciary Committee by a 5-2 vote on 2/13

bullet Senate Bill 02-155: Concerning the Issuing of Concealed Weapons Permits (BAD) by Senator Pascoe. Allows a sheriff, chief of police, or marshal to issue permits to carry concealed weapons only to persons who reside within the sheriff’s, chief’s, or marshal’s jurisdiction. Establishes an expiration date for existing permits. Read Text of Bill (Requires Acrobat Reader)

Status:
bullet Introduced 1/28 and assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee
bullet Postponed Indefinitely (killed) by Senate Judiciary Committee by a 4-3 vote on 2/13

bullet House Bill 02-1147: Public Information Requirements (GOOD) by Representative Cloer. In connection with existing statutory provisions authorizing permits for concealed weapons, requires identifying information concerning concealed weapon permit holders to be kept confidential. Includes materials and records concerning a concealed weapons permit within the definition of "criminal justice records" for purposes of the provisions concerning release of criminal justice records. Except as otherwise provided in the act, requires information identifying a concealed weapons permit holder to be deleted from a criminal justice record prior to release of the record. Read Text of Bill (Requires Acrobat Reader)

Status:
bullet Introduced 1/15 and assigned to House State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee
bullet Amended and sent to full House by the House State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee for second reading on 2/28
bullet House second reading referred to House Appropriations Committee on 3/6
bullet Amended and sent to full House by the House Appropriations Committee for second reading on 3/22
bullet House third reading passed and sent to Senate on a 38-24 vote on 4/10
bullet Received in Senate and assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee on 4/15
bullet Senate Judiciary amends to remove concealed weapons permit privacy and sends to Senate Appropriations on 4/24
bullet Senate Appropriations sends to full Senate on 4/26
bullet Senate 2nd Reading passes on 5/7
bullet Senate 3rd Reading passes and sent to House on 5/8
bullet House concurs with Senate amendments on 5/8
bullet Sent to Governor on 5/28

bullet House Bill 02-1242: Concerning the Issuing of Concealed Weapons Permits (GOOD) by Representative Schultheis and Senator Hillman. Recognizes the issuance of permits to carry concealed handguns as a matter of statewide concern. Requires each sheriff to issue a permit to any person who applies for such permit and is eligible to possess a handgun under federal and state law. Requires the sheriff to issue or deny the permit within 10 days after receiving an application. Makes the permits valid for a period of 5 years and renewable for subsequent 5-year periods. Prohibits a sheriff from requiring an applicant to provide any information concerning weapons the applicant may own. Provides reciprocity for permits issued by any state that accepts permits issued in this state. Read Text of Bill (Requires Acrobat Reader)

Status:
bullet Introduced 1/30 and assigned to House State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee
bullet Approved by the House State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee by a 5-4 vote and sent to House Appropriations Committee on 2/14
bullet Approved by the House Appropriations Committee by a 8-5 vote and sent to full House for second reading on 4/3
bullet Approved by the House on second reading and scheduled for third reading and final passage on 4/15
bullet Approved by the House on third reading and sent to Senate by a 38 (36-R, 2-D) to 27 (1-R, 26-D) vote on 4/17
bullet Received in Senate and assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee on 4/18
bullet Postponed Indefinitely (killed) by Senate Judiciary Committee by a 4-3 vote on 4/24

bullet House Bill 02-1264: Concerning the Safe Storage of Firearms (BAD) by Representative Borodkin. Creates a misdemeanor for negligent storage of a firearm if the firearm comes into the possession of a juvenile and the juvenile possesses the firearm in a public place, uses the firearm in violation of state or federal law, or discharges the firearm. Read Text of Bill (Requires Acrobat Reader)

Status:
bullet Introduced 1/30 and assigned to House State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee
bullet Postponed Indefinitely (killed) by House State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee by a 6-3 vote on 2/14

bullet House Bill 02-1287: Concerning Access to Records for the Purpose of Background Checks in the Transfer of Firearms (BAD) by Representative Veiga. Directs the state court administrator to provide access to the integrated Colorado on-line network (ICON) and other electronic databases of court records to the Colorado bureau of investigation for use in background investigations for firearm transfers. Specifies that the bureau may search the ICON and other databases maintained by the state judicial department. Directs the clerk of the court of every judicial district in the state to report to the national instant criminal background check system the name of each person with respect to whom the court has issued:
bullet A finding of incapacity;
bullet An order of commitment to the custody of the division of alcohol and drug abuse in the department of human services; and
bullet An order for involuntary certification for short-term treatment of mental illness, for extended certification for treatment of mental illness, or for long-term care and treatment of mental illness.

Read Text of Bill (Requires Acrobat Reader)

Status:
bullet Introduced 1/31 and assigned to House State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee
bullet Amended and sent to full House by the House State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee for second reading on 2/21
bullet Amended and scheduled for Third Reading on Second Reading by full House 2/26
bullet Passed House on Third Reading and sent to the Senate by a 63 - 2 vote 2/27
bullet Introduced in the Senate 3/4 and assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee
bullet Amended and sent to full Senate by the Senate Judiciary Committee for second reading on 3/20
bullet Amended on second reading and scheduled for third reading on 3/37
bullet Passed third reading and returned to House to consider Senate amendments on 4/1
bullet House concurs with Senate amendments on 5/1
bullet Sent to Governor on 5/21
bullet Signed into law by Governor on 5/30

bullet House Bill 02-1410: Concerning the Issuing of Concealed Handgun Permits (GOOD) by Representative Tochtrop and Senator Chlouber. Declares the issue of concealed handgun permits to be a matter of statewide concern. Requires any sheriff to issue a concealed handgun permit to anyone who is at least 21 years of age, is a Colorado resident, and meets specified firearms training requirements, passes a background check, has not been convicted of or adjudicated for a felony or certain misdemeanors and the applicant is not subject to unresolved criminal proceedings, chronically or habitually using alcohol or controlled substances, a danger due to mental problems, or otherwise a danger to self or others. Specifies that any concealed handgun permit issued by this state, or by another state pursuant to a comparable statute (if they recognize Colorado permits), is valid in all areas of this state. Restricts carrying on any elementary, junior high school, or high school ground (unless person remains in vehicle or handgun is locked away if person leaves vehicle). Read Text of Bill (Requires Acrobat Reader)

Status:
bullet Introduced 3/26 and assigned to House Civil Justice & Judiciary Committee
bullet Approved by the House Civil Justice & Judiciary Committee by a 6-3 vote and sent to House Appropriations Committee on 4/5
bullet Approved by the House Appropriations Committee by a 8-2 vote and sent to full House for second reading on 4/16
bullet Approved by the House on second reading and scheduled for third reading on 4/22
bullet Passed by the House on third reading by a 43-22 vote and sent to the Senate on 4/23
bullet Introduced In Senate on 4/25 and assigned to Agriculture and Natural Resources and Appropriations Committees
bullet Approved by the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on a 5-4 vote and sent unamended to Appropriations Committee on 4/30
bullet Tabled on a 5-5 vote in the Senate Appropriations Committee on 5/7

The GOOD and BAD ratings are by Bernie Herpin after reading the bills and taking into consideration what others have said. You can get the latest list of firearm bills, their status, and download a copy by clicking here: Firearm Bills

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Page last updated: 01/01/2011