DENVER– Despite a Democrat-led state legislature hostile to the lawful carrying of concealed handguns, new data show at least 27,901 Coloradans still subjected themselves to the government scrutiny and costs required to become concealed handgun permit (CHP) holders in 2025, while another 21,871 renewed existing permits. That’s according to a recently published County Sheriffs of Colorado annual report.
Notably, the report lacks data from Adams, Garfield, Pueblo and San Juan counties, which combined accounted for over 5,000 new permits in the prior year, meaning the numbers for 2025 may well be under-reported.
Regardless, while the number of new permits trails the 29,495 issued in 2024, it outpaces the 25,218 issued in 2023.
The Crime Prevention Research Center in 2025 estimated that over 19 percent of the Colorado population 21 or older holds a carry permit. A CHP is valid for five-years.
Colorado is what is known as a ‘shall issue’ state, meaning as long as an applicant passes the requirements set out by law, the issuing authority is, for the most part, required to issue a permit.
Sheriffs are, however, allowed some leeway for permit denials or revocations, if they believe the applicant is a danger to themselves or others. In Jefferson County, with over 3,700 new and renewed permits and a sheriff endorsed by extreme gun control groups, an aggressive 50 new applicants were denied for what the report calls ‘discretionary’ reasons. In Weld County, with over 5,000 new and renewed permits and an overtly pro-gun rights sheriff, there were no discretionary denials.
Other reasons for denial or revocation include arrests, residency issues, restraining orders, and mental illness or addiction. Of the more than 50,894 total applicants, a modest 500 were denied permits statewide, while just 401 existing permits were revoked.
Lawmakers target concealed carry
CHP applicants have always had to pass a fingerprint-based criminal background check and a firearms training class by a certified instructor. While permits are usually issued by elected county sheriffs, in Denver and Broomfield (which are both cities and counties) it’s through the police department. Depending on where you live the process could be completed in a few weeks to as long as several months.
Despite the fact that applicants already volunteer themselves for scrutiny, the legislature has as of late specifically targeted concealed carry for yet more costs, obligations, and restrictions.
House Bill 24-1174 significantly expanded the classroom training requirements for a permit, to include a live-fire exercise and a written exam, with instructors “verified” by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. The bill also requires a “refresher” class for the renewal of a permit. Nowhere does the bill cite evidence of any issues arising from prior requirements, nor of CHP holders as committing gun violence. The mandates went fully into effect July 1, 2025.
Senate Bill 24-131 “prohibits a person from carrying a firearm, both openly and concealed” in what the bill designates as “sensitive spaces,” to include government building, colleges and universities, courthouses and schools.
The law, which has been in effect since mid-2024, includes a section that allows local Colorado governments to opt-out of the ban.
As previously reported by Complete Colorado, numerous local government have, or are are working towards opting-out of the law, including Douglas, Logan, Routt, and Weld counties, as well as municipalities such as Pueblo, Palmer Lake and Monument in El Paso County, and Castle Rock in Douglas County.
Permit holders exceptionally law-abiding
David Kopel, research director at the Independence Institute,* notes that concealed handgun permit holders as a group are among Colorado’s most law-abiding citizens.
“Concealed carry is, by its nature, virtually impossible to detect, unless a person walks through a metal detector or is frisked by the police. Obtaining a concealed carry permit requires hundreds of dollars in fees and expenses, including for training, as well as the post-training hours necessary to go through the permitting process,” Kopel said. “The only people who bother to go through the onerous process are people who are so concerned about legal compliance that they spend significant resources just to obtain a card from the government allowing them to legally do what they could have done anyway for free, and with very low risk of being caught.”
In 2022, Kopel presented data to the Denver City Council–which was considering a concealed carry ban in city parks–showing that among Colorado’s 21 and over adult population, a CHP holder is “about 39 times less likely to be arrested than an adult without one.”
* Independence Institute is the publisher of Complete Colorado.
