Basalt Firearms

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navigating your first 30 days as a gun owner
This guide provides a structured landing page designed to help new residents or first-time owners navigate the specific legal landscape of Colorado.

Phase 1: The Purchase & The Wait (Days 1–3)

In Colorado, your journey begins with a mandatory waiting period.

  • The 3-Day Rule: Under Colorado law (HB23-1219), there is a mandatory 3-day waiting period between the initiation of your background check and the physical transfer of the firearm.

  • Age Requirements: You must be 21 years of age to purchase any firearm in Colorado, including rifles and shotguns (SB23-169).

  • The Background Check: All sales—including private transfers—must go through a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) to complete a CBI (Colorado Bureau of Investigation) background check.

Phase 2: Bringing it Home & Secure Storage (Days 4–10)

Once you clear your background check and pick up your firearm, your primary responsibility shifts to home safety.

  • Safe Storage Laws: Colorado requires firearms to be stored in a “locked safe or secure container” if a minor or a prohibited person could reasonably access them.

Essential Gear:

  • A Quality Safe: Whether it’s a quick-access biometric safe for home defense or a heavy-duty vault, ensure it meets your specific needs.

  • Cleaning Kit: Learn the anatomy of your new firearm by performing its first cleaning.

  • Ammunition: Familiarize yourself with the 15-round magazine limit in Colorado. Ensure your magazines are compliant with state statutes.

Phase 3: Education & Proficiency (Days 11–20)

Owning a tool is not the same as knowing how to use it. This is the time to build your “mental toolkit.”

The 4 Universal Safety Rules:

    1. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.

    2. Never point the muzzle at anything you are not willing to destroy.

    3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you have made the decision to shoot.

    4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

Legal Education: Understand Colorado’s “Use of Force” statutes. Knowing when you can legally use a firearm is just as important as knowing how.

Phase 4: Range Time & Future Planning (Days 21–30)

By the end of your first month, you should feel comfortable with the operation of your firearm.

  • Visit a Local Range: Practice your fundamentals—grip, stance, sight alignment, and trigger control.

  • Concealed Handgun Permits (CHP): If you intend to carry, start researching the permit process. In Colorado, this requires a state-approved training course. Note that as of 2025, training requirements have become more rigorous, including mandatory in-person instruction and live-fire components.

  • Stay Informed: Colorado’s firearm laws are evolving. Be aware of upcoming changes, such as the 2026 requirements for “Specified Semiautomatic Firearm” eligibility cards.

Ready to take the next step?

Plan A Visit to the Basalt Shooting Range  | Contact Our Safety Experts

Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Firearm laws are subject to change at the state and local levels.

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