Colorado's new permit-to-purchase law for semiautomatic firearms takes effect Aug. 1

Effective August 1, Colorado will require a permit‑to‑purchase for most semiautomatic rifles and pistols, including AR‑ and AK‑style weapons. The process mandates an eligibility review by a county sheriff, a comprehensive safety‑training course with a firearms instructor, and a written examination.

The law, Senate Bill 25‑3, does not ban ownership but restricts purchase of firearms that accept detachable magazines unless the buyer completes the permit process. Guns with permanently attached magazines meeting a 15‑round limit may be bought without a permit. Rapid‑fire trigger devices are also prohibited.

Implementation is overseen by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, which has worked with industry groups, instructors, and gun‑shop owners to design the training curriculum and public‑information campaign. The state is preparing for ongoing litigation challenging the law’s constitutionality.