Concealed carry keeps growing in Colorado; over twenty-five thousand new permits in 2023

... While majority Democrats in the state legislature push for new restrictions on the lawful carrying of concealed handguns, new data shows 25,218 Colorado adults subjected themselves to the scrutiny already required to become new concealed handgun permit (CHP) holders in 2023, while another 36,291 renewed existing permits.  That’s according to a County Sheriffs of Colorado annual report, published earlier this month...

The Crime Prevention Research Center in 2023 estimated that just over 16 percent of the Colorado population 21 or older holds a carry permit...

In 2022, Kopel presented data to the Denver City Council showing that among Colorado’s 21 and over adult population, a CHP holder is “about 39 times less likely to be arrested than an adult without one.”...

House Bill 24-1174 significantly expands the classroom training requirements, to include a live-fire exercise and a written exam, with instructors “verified” by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.  The bill also requires a “refresher” class for the renewal of a permit. Nowhere does the bill cite evidence of problems arising from the current requirements...

House Bill 24-1174 significantly expands the classroom training requirements, to include a live-fire exercise and a written exam, with instructors “verified” by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.  The bill also requires a “refresher” class for the renewal of a permit. Nowhere does the bill cite evidence of problems arising from the current requirements...

Senate Bill 24-131 “prohibits a person from carrying a firearm, both openly and concealed” in numerous new places throughout the state, which the bill designates as “sensitive spaces,” to include:

• A public park or playground.
• A recreation facility or community center that is open to the public and is owned, operated or managed by a local government.
• Property open to the public while a public gathering, assembly or special event is being conducted, which includes demonstrations, marches, rallies, vigils, protests, and picket lines, as well as the sidewalk or streets adjacent to the gathering.
• A public or private hospital, nursing home, clinic, medical office, urgent care facility or other place at which medical or healthcare services are being provided.
• A mental health or substance abuse facility.
• Any stadium that is host to professional, collegiate, high school, amateur or student sporting events.
• Any amusement parks, aquariums, carnivals, circuses, fairs, museums, water parks, or zoos
• A courthouse and other buildings used for court proceedings.
• In a building or real property owned, leased, or operated by the state or a local government or on the adjacent grounds.
• At a location where a state or local government meeting occurs.
• Correctional facilities.
• A public library.
• A shelter operated by the state or a local government or charitable organization that serves homeless people.
• Daycare centers and preschools.
• The campus of any public or private community college, college or university.

A similar law passed in California has been temporarily halted by by a federal judge, who ruled the overly-broad definition of  “sensitive spaces” violates the Second Amendment...