Signed by Governor Jared Polis

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that establishes various new rules and regulations for gun shows in Colorado.

Highlights:

• 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 (Sec. 1-4).

• Establishes certain requirements on a gun show promoter, including requiring the promoter to (Sec. 1-4):

• 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 3-day waiting period; and

• Post certain notices at the gun show.

• Specifies that 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 (Sec. 1-4).

• Prohibits an individual from participating in a gun show as a gun show vendor if the person is not a federal firearms licensee, 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 (Sec. 1-4).

• Establishes 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 (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that 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 (Sec. 1-4).

• Requires that 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 (Sec. 1-4).

• Establishes unlawful gun show vendor activity as 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 (Sec. 1-4).

• Authorizes this bill to maintain the requirement in existing law that a gun show vendor conduct a background check for each firearm transfer at a gun show (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect beginning January 1, 2026 (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that establishes various new rules and regulations for gun shows in Colorado.

Highlights:

• 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 (Sec. 1-4).

• Establishes certain requirements on a gun show promoter, including requiring the promoter to (Sec. 1-4):

• 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 3-day waiting period; and

• Post certain notices at the gun show.

• Specifies that 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 (Sec. 1-4).

• Prohibits an individual from participating in a gun show as a gun show vendor if the person is not a federal firearms licensee, 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 (Sec. 1-4).

• Establishes 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 (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that 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 (Sec. 1-4).

• Requires that 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 (Sec. 1-4).

• Establishes unlawful gun show vendor activity as 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 (Sec. 1-4).

• Authorizes this bill to maintain the requirement in existing law that a gun show vendor conduct a background check for each firearm transfer at a gun show (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect beginning January 1, 2026 (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text