Concealed Carry: A First Person Account From Colorado

In June, my wife & I relocated back to Colorado from the state of ‘there outta be a law’ (also known as California.) Colorado is much friendlier to gun owners than California. For example, every firearms purchase or inheritance that I made in California required registration with the California Department of Justice. In Colorado, I have to register zero firearms per CRS 29-11.7-102 which prohibits gun registration by the state or any local government.

While in California I had wanted to obtain a concealed carry permit, but the truth is I never had the time to go through the lengthy process. When I found out that we were moving to Colorado, I decided to do a quick search to see what the process was in that state. Nowhere on the Marin County (California) Sheriff’s website could I find information regarding concealed carry; but on the Boulder County (Colorado) Sheriff’s website there is a complete section detailing all of the restrictions, fees & how to obtain a permit. This was almost a perfect guide to obtain my permit.

The first step was to obtain residency in Colorado. This was easy enough as we needed to surrender our California driver’s license & obtain Colorado licenses. Once we received our photo licenses in the mail, I could comfortably proceed with the second step – handgun safety training in Colorado. Now I already had in my possession the California Handgun Safety Certificate which I thought might satisfy this requirement. I made a quick call to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office to enquire if this certificate would be sufficient. After an inconclusive discussion with the representative at the sheriff’s office, I was not comfortable submitting the certificate, application & non-refundable fees. First off, certificate is lacking the NRA instructor’s number (not required on the CA certificate) & my feeling is that my application would probably be denied since, as I found out later, the Colorado handgun training courses focus on Colorado law. So, back to the internet to search for a handgun safety class.

There are plenty of companies out there offering classes. They range from purely classroom courses for the experienced shooter to the a mix of classroom & live-fire courses for those who do not feel as comfortable around firearms. These courses range in length, but are a minimum of four hours. They average $100 with the least expensive courses being classroom only. I already had some training from a NRA instructor in California, so I chose the classroom only option. I found Colorado Handgun Safety (www.coloradohandgunsafety.com) was offering a classroom only course about ten miles from our house within a week of when I started this process. I purchased a spot online & I was set.

The class was being held at a local hotel, so it was easy to find. When I arrived, I was checked-in & handed a binder specifically put together with information pertaining to my county of residence. There were approximately 25 other individuals in the class, including two women. This was a four hour course taught tag-team style by Bill & Bradon. Their primary focuses were state law & the use of deadly force. As dry as both of those sound, it was an eye opening course. They made me really think about what it means to be a CCP holder & the possible use of lethal force. Once the course was complete, we received a certificate that was good for ten years or two uses. Since the CCP is only good for five years, that certificate can be used for the renewal.

Now I had my proof of residency & handgun safety certificate. Next I needed to fill out my application, write a $100 check for the processing fee & submit it to the Sheriff’s Office, so I was off to 7-Eleven. Along with the application, processing fee check, proof of residency & handgun safety certificate I needed a money order or cashier’s check made payable to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation in the amount of $52.50 for my criminal background check. I had all five items required to submit my application – finally I was off to the Records Department at the Sheriff’s Office. Once I finally found parking at the Sheriff’s Office & made it through the metal detector, the process was uneventful. The clerk photocopied my driver’s license & handgun safety certificate; took my two forms of payment; & witnessed the signing of my application before taking that. Now I have my permit…in 90 days. The clerk stated that the background check was taking the full 90 days & that after it was complete I would receive a call to schedule my finger printing & photographing for my permit.

Once I have my permit, I will be legal to carry in 28 states – actually 29 since Vermont does not require a permit to carry concealed. I can also add three more states if I choose to apply for the Florida non-resident permit.

If you are looking to obtain your CCP, the process is different in every state. You can enquire about eligibility or start the process by visiting your Sheriff’s department website or giving them a call.