Colorado Code § 18-12-115

Waiting period for firearms sales - background check required - penalty - exceptions
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(1) (a) It is unlawful for any person who sells a firearm, including a licensed gun
dealer as defined in section 18-12-506 (6), to deliver the firearm to the purchaser until the later
in time occurs: 
(I) Three days after a licensed gun dealer has initiated a background check of the
purchaser that is required pursuant to state or federal law; or 
(II) The seller has obtained approval for the firearm transfer from the bureau after it has
completed any background check required by state or federal law. 
(b) A person who violates this subsection (1) commits a civil infraction and, upon
conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of five hundred dollars; except that for a second
or subsequent offense, the fine shall be not less than five hundred dollars and not more than five
thousand dollars. 
(2) This section does not apply to: 
(a) The sale of 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; 
(b) The sale of a firearm by a person serving in the armed forces of the United States
who will be deployed outside of the United States within the next thirty days to any family
member, including: 
(I) Regardless of age, a biological, adopted, or foster child; a stepchild or legal ward; a
child of a domestic partner; a child to whom the seller stands in loco parentis; or a person to
whom the seller stood in loco parentis when the person was a minor; 
(II) A biological, adoptive, or foster parent; a stepparent or legal guardian of the seller or
seller's spouse or domestic partner; or a person who stood in loco parentis when the seller or
seller's spouse or domestic partner was a minor child; 
(III) A person to whom the seller is legally married under the laws of any state or a
domestic partner of a seller; 
(IV) A grandparent, grandchild, or sibling, whether a biological, foster, adoptive, or step
relationship, of the seller or seller's spouse or domestic partner; or 
(V) As shown by the seller, any other individual with whom the seller has a significant
personal bond that is or is like a family relationship, regardless of biological or legal
relationship; or 
(c) A firearm transfer for which a background check is not required pursuant to state or
federal law. 
(3) Pursuant to the authority granted in section 29-11.7-103, a local government may
enact an ordinance, regulation, or other law concerning a waiting period.

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