Colorado criminal charge
Firearms transfers by licensed dealers in Colorado
Firearms transfers by licensed dealers is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 18-12-112.5. Its classification is not fixed: Colorado assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by C.R.S. § 18-12-112.5.
What is the penalty for firearms transfers by licensed dealers in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (no statutory minimum) (Unlawful transfer/sale of firearm by licensed dealer — Transferring or selling a firearm in violation of subsection (1), including transfer without required background check approval or sale to a person under 21, is a class 1 misdemeanor.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 1000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Unlawful transfer/sale of firearm by licensed dealer — Transferring or selling a firearm in violation of subsection (1), including transfer without required background check approval or sale to a person under 21, is a class 1 misdemeanor.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Jail / prison | up to 120 days (no statutory minimum) (Unlawful purchase of firearm in violation of subsection (1) — Purchasing a firearm in violation of subsection (1), including purchase by a person under 21 not falling within an exception, is a class 2 misdemeanor.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 750 usd (no statutory minimum) (Unlawful purchase of firearm in violation of subsection (1) — Purchasing a firearm in violation of subsection (1), including purchase by a person under 21 not falling within an exception, is a class 2 misdemeanor.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
Applies to offenses on/after 2022-03-01 (SB21-271).
How is firearms transfers by licensed dealers classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlawful transfer/sale of firearm by licensed dealer | class 1 misdemeanor | Transferring or selling a firearm in violation of subsection (1), including transfer without required background check approval or sale to a person under 21, is a class 1 misdemeanor. | 18-12-112.5(1)(b) |
| Unlawful purchase of firearm in violation of subsection (1) | class 2 misdemeanor | Purchasing a firearm in violation of subsection (1), including purchase by a person under 21 not falling within an exception, is a class 2 misdemeanor. | 18-12-112.5(1)(c) |
Common questions about firearms transfers by licensed dealers in Colorado
Is firearms transfers by licensed dealers a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
It depends on the circumstances: firearms transfers by licensed dealers ranges from a class 2 misdemeanor to a class 1 misdemeanor in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-12-112.5.
Unlawful transfer/sale of firearm by licensed dealer: class 1 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-12-112.5(1)(b)) · Unlawful purchase of firearm in violation of subsection (1): class 2 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-12-112.5(1)(c))
What are the penalties for firearms transfers by licensed dealers in Colorado?
Penalties for firearms transfers by licensed dealers in Colorado depend on how it is classified — from a class 2 misdemeanor up to a class 1 misdemeanor — with the ranges set by C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Colorado statute covers firearms transfers by licensed dealers?
Firearms transfers by licensed dealers is governed by C.R.S. § 18-12-112.5 (Firearms transfers by licensed dealers - sale and purchase - background check required - penalty - definitions).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.