Many adults in Colorado make use of the Second Amendment. Whether they hunt or have a firearm for household protection, they own and may even occasionally practice with a legal firearm.

There are certain rules in place limiting the use and acquisition of firearms, and not all of those rules hold up under scrutiny. The Supreme Court recently ruled on a specific firearm law. If you get advice from the wrong person about that ruling, you could make a mistake that would lead to criminal charges.

What did the Supreme Court determine?

The June 2022 ruling from the Supreme Court dealing with the Second Amendment was the result of a very restrictive law in New York. For more than 100 years, those in New York who wanted a permit for concealed carry, which is necessary to take a firearm in public, had to show that they had a special need for self-defense. A prior issue with a stalker or a dangerous, high-profile job could justify getting a permit, but the average person would have a hard time qualifying.

The Supreme Court determined that this restriction was unreasonable and unconstitutional, striking down that law. There are some people who might tell you that this ruling means you no longer need a license anywhere in the country to carry a concealed firearm. However, that is not the case.

You could still get arrested for improperly storing or carrying a firearm in Colorado following this ruling. The ruling only applied to very specific and restrictive licensing programs in certain states. Understanding the firearm laws in Colorado can help you avoid making a mistake that could lead to criminal charges.