C.R.S. Section 18-12-114
Secure firearm storage required

  • penalty
  • exceptions

(1)

Firearms must be responsibly and securely stored when they are not in use to prevent access by unsupervised juveniles and other unauthorized users. A person responsibly and securely stores a firearm when:

(a)

The person carries the firearm on his or her person or within such close proximity thereto that the person can readily retrieve and use the firearm as if the person carried the firearm on his or her person;

(b)

The firearm is kept in a locked gun safe or other secure container or in a manner that a reasonable person would believe to be secure and a juvenile or resident of the premises who is ineligible to possess a firearm does not have access to the key, combination, or other unlocking mechanism necessary to open the safe or container;

(c)

The person properly installs a locking device on the firearm and a juvenile or resident of the premises who is ineligible to possess a firearm does not have access to the key, combination, or other unlocking mechanism necessary to remove the locking device; or

(d)

The firearm is a personalized firearm and the safety characteristics of the firearm are activated.

(2)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

A person commits unlawful storage of a firearm when the person fails to responsibly and securely store a firearm, as described in subsection (1) of this section, upon any premises that the person owns or controls and the person knows or reasonably should know that:

(I)

A juvenile can gain access to the firearm without the permission of the juvenile’s parent or guardian; or

(II)

A resident of the premises is ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant to state or federal law.

(b)

Unlawful storage of a firearm is a class 2 misdemeanor.

(c)

It is an affirmative defense to the offense of unlawful storage of a firearm that a juvenile gained possession of, and used, the firearm for the purpose of exercising the rights contained in section 18-1-704 or 18-1-704.5 or in defense of livestock.

(3)

This section does not apply to storing an antique firearm, as defined in 18 U.S.C. sec. 921 (a)(16), as amended, or a curio or relic, as defined in 27 CFR 478.11, as amended.

Source: Section 18-12-114 — Secure firearm storage required - penalty - exceptions, 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

§ 18-12-114’s source at colorado​.gov