C.R.S. Section 18-12-111.5
Unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver

  • exceptions
  • penalties
  • authority to serialize a firearm

(1)

[Editor’s note:
Subsection (1) is effective January 1, 2024.]

(a)

A person shall not knowingly possess or transport an unfinished frame or receiver; except that it is not an offense if the unfinished frame or receiver is required by federal law to be imprinted with a serial number and has been imprinted with a serial number by a federal firearms licensee pursuant to federal law or subsection (7) of this section.

(b)

This subsection (1) does not apply to a federally licensed firearm importer or federally licensed firearm manufacturer acting within the scope of the importer’s or manufacturer’s license.

(2)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

A person shall not knowingly sell, offer to sell, transfer, or purchase an unfinished frame or receiver; except that it is not an offense if the unfinished frame or receiver is required by federal law to be imprinted with a serial number and has been imprinted with a serial number by a federal firearms licensee pursuant to federal law or subsection (7) of this section.

(b)

This subsection (2) does not apply to:

(I)

A sale, offer to sell, transfer, or purchase if the purchaser is a federal firearms licensee; or

(II)

A temporary transfer to a federal firearms licensee for the purpose of having the firearm or frame or receiver of a firearm imprinted with a serial number pursuant to subsection (7) of this section.

(3)

[Editor’s note:
Subsection (3) is effective January 1, 2024.]

(a)

A person shall not knowingly possess, purchase, transport, or receive a firearm or frame or receiver of a firearm that is not imprinted with a serial number by a federal firearms licensee authorized to imprint a serial number on a firearm, frame, or receiver pursuant to federal law or subsection (7) of this section.

(b)

This subsection (3) does not apply if:

(I)

The person possessing, purchasing, transporting, or receiving the firearm or the frame or receiver of a firearm is a federally licensed firearm importer or federally licensed firearm manufacturer; or

(II)

The firearm involved has been rendered permanently inoperable; is a defaced firearm, as described in section 18-12-103; is an antique firearm, as defined in 18 U.S.C. sec. 921 (a)(16); or was manufactured before October 22, 1968.

(4)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

A person shall not knowingly sell, offer to sell, or transfer a firearm or frame or receiver of a firearm that is not imprinted with a serial number by a federal firearms licensee authorized to imprint a serial number on a firearm pursuant to federal law or subsection (7) of this section.

(b)

This subsection (4) does not apply if:

(I)

The person selling, offering to sell, or transferring the firearm or frame or receiver of a firearm is a federally licensed firearm importer or federally licensed firearm manufacturer, and the person purchasing or receiving the firearm or frame or receiver of a firearm is a federally licensed firearm importer or federally licensed firearm manufacturer;

(II)

The firearm involved has been rendered permanently inoperable; is a defaced firearm, as described in section 18-12-103; is an antique firearm, as defined in 18 U.S.C. sec. 921 (a)(16); or was manufactured before October 22, 1968; or

(III)

The transfer is a temporary transfer to a federal firearms licensee for the purpose of having the firearm or frame or receiver of a firearm imprinted with a serial number pursuant to subsection (7) of this section.
(5)(a)(I) A person shall not manufacture or cause to be manufactured, including through the use of a three-dimensional printer, a frame or receiver of a firearm.

(II)

This subsection (5)(a) does not apply to a federally licensed firearm manufacturer.

(b)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(I)

A person who owns, on the day before June 2, 2023, a firearm or a frame or receiver of a firearm that the person manufactured and that is not imprinted with a serial number by a federal firearms licensee shall, no later than January 1, 2024, have the firearm or the frame or receiver of a firearm imprinted with a serial number by a federal firearms licensee authorized to imprint a serial number on a firearm, frame, or receiver pursuant to federal law or subsection (7) of this section.

(II)

This subsection (5)(b) does not apply to a federal firearms licensee.

(6)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

A person who violates subsection (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5)(a) of this section commits unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver.

(b)

Unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver is a class 1 misdemeanor; except that a second or subsequent offense is a class 5 felony.

(7)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

A federal firearms licensee may serialize a firearm or frame or receiver of a firearm, including a finished or unfinished frame or receiver, by imprinting a serial number on the firearm, frame, or receiver. To serialize a firearm, frame, or receiver, the dealer or other licensee must imprint on the firearm, frame, or receiver a serial number beginning with the dealer’s or licensee’s abbreviated federal firearms license number, which is the first three and last five digits of the license number, followed by a hyphen, before a unique identification number. The serial number must not be duplicated on any other firearm, frame, or receiver serialized by the licensee, and must be imprinted in a manner that complies with the requirements in federal law for imprinting a serial number on a firearm, including the minimum size and depth of the serial number and that the serial number is not susceptible to being readily obliterated, altered, or removed.

(b)

The licensee must retain a record concerning a firearm, frame, or receiver serialized by the licensee that complies with the requirements under federal law for the sale of a firearm. In addition to any record required by federal law, a federal firearms licensee that imprints a unique serial number on a firearm, frame, or receiver pursuant to this subsection (7) shall make a record at the time of the transaction of each transaction involving serializing a firearm, frame, or receiver and keep that record. The record must include the following information: The date, name, age, and residence of any person to whom the item is transferred; and the unique serial number imprinted on the firearm, frame, or receiver. A licensee that fails to make and retain a record required in this subsection (7)(b) shall be punished as provided in section 18-12-403.

(c)

Returning a newly serialized firearm, frame, or receiver to a person after serializing the firearm, frame, or receiver pursuant to federal law or this subsection (7) is a transfer of a firearm, and a federal firearms licensee that imprints a unique serial number on the firearm, frame, or receiver pursuant to this subsection (7) shall conduct a background check on the transferee pursuant to section 18-12-112.5 before returning the firearm to the transferee. If the transfer is denied, the licensee shall surrender the firearm, frame, or receiver to a law enforcement agency.

Source: Section 18-12-111.5 — Unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver - exceptions - penalties - authority to serialize a firearm, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-18.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

18‑12‑101
Peace officer affirmative defense - definitions
18‑12‑102
Possessing a dangerous or illegal weapon - affirmative defense - definition
18‑12‑103
Possession of a defaced firearm
18‑12‑103.5
Defaced firearms - contraband - destruction
18‑12‑104
Defacing a firearm
18‑12‑105
Unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon - unlawful possession of weapons
18‑12‑105.5
Unlawfully carrying a weapon - unlawful possession of weapons - school, college, or university grounds
18‑12‑105.6
Limitation on local ordinances regarding firearms in private vehicles
18‑12‑106
Prohibited use of weapons - definitions
18‑12‑106.5
Use of stun guns
18‑12‑107
Penalty for second offense
18‑12‑107.5
Illegal discharge of a firearm - penalty
18‑12‑108
Possession of weapons by previous offenders
18‑12‑108.5
Possession of handguns by juveniles - prohibited - exceptions - penalty
18‑12‑108.7
Unlawfully providing or permitting a juvenile to possess a handgun - penalty - unlawfully providing a firearm other than a handgun to a juvenile - penalty
18‑12‑109
Possession, use, or removal of explosives or incendiary devices - possession of components thereof - chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons - persons exempt - hoaxes
18‑12‑110
Forfeiture of firearms
18‑12‑111
Unlawful purchase of firearms
18‑12‑111.5
Unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver - exceptions - penalties - authority to serialize a firearm
18‑12‑112
Private firearms transfers - sale and purchase - background check required - penalty - definitions
18‑12‑112.5
Firearms transfers by licensed dealers - sale and purchase - background check required - penalty - definitions
18‑12‑113
Failure to report a lost or stolen firearm - exception
18‑12‑114
Secure firearm storage required - penalty - exceptions
18‑12‑115
Waiting period for firearms sales - background check required - penalty - exceptions
18‑12‑201
Legislative declaration
18‑12‑202
Definitions
18‑12‑203
Criteria for obtaining a permit
18‑12‑204
Permit contents - validity - carrying requirements
18‑12‑205
Sheriff - application - procedure - background check
18‑12‑206
Sheriff - issuance or denial of permits - report
18‑12‑207
Judicial review - permit denial - permit suspension - permit revocation
18‑12‑208
Colorado bureau of investigation - duties
18‑12‑209
Issuance by sheriffs of temporary emergency permits
18‑12‑210
Maintenance of permit - address change - invalidity of permit
18‑12‑211
Renewal of permits
18‑12‑212
Exemption
18‑12‑213
Reciprocity
18‑12‑214
Authority granted by permit - carrying restrictions - local authority
18‑12‑215
Immunity
18‑12‑301
Definitions
18‑12‑302
Large-capacity magazines prohibited - penalties - exceptions
18‑12‑303
Identification markings for large-capacity magazines - rules
18‑12‑401
Definitions
18‑12‑402
Retail dealers - record - inspection
18‑12‑403
Record - failure to make - penalty
18‑12‑404
Jurisdiction - county courts
18‑12‑405
Locking device required - penalty
18‑12‑501
Background checks at gun shows - penalty
18‑12‑502
Records - penalty
18‑12‑503
Fees imposed by licensed gun dealers
18‑12‑504
Posted notice - penalty
18‑12‑505
Exemption
18‑12‑506
Definitions
18‑12‑507
Appropriation
18‑12‑508
Effective date
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 18-12-111.5’s source at colorado​.gov