Can you own a firearm that is given to you if you are under 18 in Colorado?

Answer 1

You may OWN a firearm at any age. Possession is another matter. In Colorado, there is a distinction between handguns, and rifles/ shotguns.

In Colorado, any person under age 18 may not knowingly possess a handgun, except:

• When in attendance at a hunter's or firearms safety course;
• During lawful firearm or target shooting;
• During certain organized competitions or performances;
• When hunting or trapping with a valid state license;
• When traveling to or from such activities as previously noted;
• When on property under the control of the person's parent, legal guardian or grandparent with the permission of such person's parent, legal guardian or grandparent; or
• When at the person's residence, with the permission of the person's parent or legal guardian, for the purpose of lawful self-defense.1

Colorado does not provide a minimum age to possess rifles or shotguns.

While the above covers possession, ownership is another matter. You may recall recently that HB1224 passed in Colorado. One of the provisions of HB1224 was universal background checks - to take possession of a firearm, you must undergo and pass a background check. Under federal law, you have to be 18 to purchase or receive a long gun from a dealer, and since dealers are the only ones who can call in background checks to the CBI, there's a catch 22 there.