Colorado criminal charge
Unlawful purchase of firearms in Colorado
Current through 2026 Colorado legislative session
Unlawful purchase of firearms is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 18-12-111. 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. § 18-12-111.
What is the penalty for unlawful purchase of firearms in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | 2 years to 6 years (Unlawful purchase of firearm on behalf of ineligible person — A person knowingly purchases or otherwise obtains a firearm on behalf of or for transfer to a person the transferor knows or reasonably should know is ineligible to possess a firearm under federal or state law.) | presumptive | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Fine | 2000 usd to 500000 usd (Unlawful purchase of firearm on behalf of ineligible person — A person knowingly purchases or otherwise obtains a firearm on behalf of or for transfer to a person the transferor knows or reasonably should know is ineligible to possess a firearm under federal or state law.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Parole / supervision | 3 years to 3 years (Unlawful purchase of firearm on behalf of ineligible person — A person knowingly purchases or otherwise obtains a firearm on behalf of or for transfer to a person the transferor knows or reasonably should know is ineligible to possess a firearm under federal or state law.; mandatory parole) | mandatory | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Fine | up to 100 usd (no statutory minimum) (Failure to post required sign — A licensed firearms dealer violates the requirement to post a sign displaying the provisions of subsection (1) in a visible, easily readable manner at each retail location.; civil matter, no jail; individual statutes may set a different fine) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Fine | up to 100 usd (no statutory minimum) (Unlawful attempted firearm purchase while subject to a voluntary waiver — A person attempts to purchase a firearm while subject to a voluntary waiver of the right to purchase a firearm under section 24-33.5-424.7, punishable by a fine of up to twenty-five dollars.; civil matter, no jail; individual statutes may set a different fine) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
Applies to offenses on/after 2018-07-01.
How is unlawful purchase of firearms classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlawful purchase of firearm on behalf of ineligible person | class 4 felony | A person knowingly purchases or otherwise obtains a firearm on behalf of or for transfer to a person the transferor knows or reasonably should know is ineligible to possess a firearm under federal or state law. | 18-12-111(1) |
| Failure to post required sign | civil infraction | A licensed firearms dealer violates the requirement to post a sign displaying the provisions of subsection (1) in a visible, easily readable manner at each retail location. | 18-12-111(2)(b) |
| Unlawful attempted firearm purchase while subject to a voluntary waiver | civil infraction | A person attempts to purchase a firearm while subject to a voluntary waiver of the right to purchase a firearm under section 24-33.5-424.7, punishable by a fine of up to twenty-five dollars. | 18-12-111(4)(a) |
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.