(1) Beginning May 17, 2003,
except as set forth in this section, a sheriff shall issue a permit to carry a concealed
handgun to an applicant who:
(a) Is a legal resident of the state of Colorado. For purposes of this part 2, a
person who is a member of the armed forces and is stationed pursuant to
permanent duty station orders at a military installation in this state, and a member
of the person's immediate family living in Colorado, shall be deemed to be a legal
resident of the state of Colorado.
(b) Is twenty-one years of age or older;
(c) Is not ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant to section 18-12-108 or
federal law;
(c.5) Has not been convicted of any of the offenses described in section 24-33.5-424 (3)(b.3) committed on or after July 1, 2025, if the offense is classified as a
misdemeanor, and the applicant has not been convicted in another state or
jurisdiction, including a military or federal jurisdiction, of an offense that, if
committed in Colorado, would constitute any of the offenses described in section
24-33.5-424 (3)(b.3) classified as a misdemeanor offense, within five years prior to
filing the permit application;
(d) Has not been convicted of perjury under section 18-8-503, in relation to
information provided or deliberately omitted on a permit application submitted
pursuant to this part 2;
(e) (I) Does not chronically and habitually use alcoholic beverages to the
extent that the applicant's normal faculties are impaired.
(II) The prohibition specified in this subsection (1)(e) shall not apply to an
applicant who provides an affidavit, signed by a professional counselor or addiction
counselor who is licensed pursuant to article 245 of title 12 and specializes in
alcohol addiction, stating that the applicant has been evaluated by the counselor
and has been determined to be a recovering alcoholic who has refrained from using
alcohol for at least three years.
(f) Is not an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance as defined
in section 18-18-102 (5). Whether an applicant is an unlawful user of or addicted to a
controlled substance shall be determined as provided in federal law and
regulations.
(g) Is not subject to:
(I) A protection order issued pursuant to section 18-1-1001 or section 19-2.5-607 that is in effect at the time the application is submitted; or
(II) A permanent protection order issued pursuant to article 14 of title 13;
(III) A temporary protection order issued pursuant to article 14 of title 13 that
is in effect at the time the application is submitted; or
(IV) A temporary extreme risk protection order issued pursuant to section 13-14.5-103 (3) or an extreme risk protection order issued pursuant to section 13-14.5-105 (2);
(h) Demonstrates competence with a handgun by submitting:
(I) Evidence of experience with a firearm through participation in organized
shooting competitions, current military service, or current certification as a peace
officer pursuant to article 2.5 of title 16;
(II) Evidence that, at the time the application is submitted, the applicant is a
certified instructor;
(III) Proof of honorable discharge from a branch of the United States armed
forces within the three years preceding submittal of the application;
(IV) Proof of honorable discharge from a branch of the United States armed
forces that reflects pistol qualifications obtained within the ten years preceding
submittal of the application;
(V) A certificate showing retirement from a Colorado law enforcement
agency that reflects pistol qualifications obtained within the ten years preceding
submittal of the application; or
(VI) A training certificate from a concealed handgun training class obtained
within the one year preceding submittal of the application. The applicant shall
submit the original training certificate that includes the printed name and original
signature of the verified instructor. To the extent permitted by section 18-12-202.5,
in obtaining a training certificate from a concealed handgun training class, the
applicant has discretion in selecting which concealed handgun training class to
complete.
(2) Regardless of whether an applicant meets the criteria specified in
subsection (1) of this section, if the sheriff has a reasonable belief that documented
previous behavior by the applicant makes it likely the applicant will present a
danger to self or others if the applicant receives a permit to carry a concealed
handgun, the sheriff may deny the permit.
(3) (a) The sheriff shall deny, revoke, or refuse to renew a permit if an
applicant or a permittee fails to meet one of the criteria listed in subsection (1) of
this section and may deny, revoke, or refuse to renew a permit on the grounds
specified in subsection (2) of this section.
(b) Following issuance of a permit, if the issuing sheriff has a reasonable
belief that a permittee no longer meets the criteria specified in subsection (1) of this
section or that the permittee presents a danger as described in subsection (2) of
this section, the sheriff shall suspend the permit until such time as the matter is
resolved and the issuing sheriff determines that the permittee is eligible to possess
a permit as provided in this section.
(c) If the sheriff suspends or revokes a permit, the sheriff shall notify the
permittee in writing, stating the grounds for suspension or revocation and informing
the permittee of the right to seek a second review by the sheriff, to submit
additional information for the record, and to seek judicial review pursuant to section
18-12-207.