Weekly Spotlight 7/4/25 – 7/11/25
Colorado’s New Concealed Carry Processes Take Effect
On July 1, 2025, Colorado House Bill 24-1174 officially took effect, ushering in major changes to the state’s concealed carry permit process. The new law mandates that applicants complete eight hours of in-person training, including a live-fire exercise and a written exam, conducted by a verified instructor. These requirements apply to both new applicants and those seeking to renew their permits.
While these changes can be interpreted as additional hurdles to exercising Second Amendment rights, they also present an opportunity to emphasize responsible firearm ownership and proficiency. Proper education and training ensure that concealed carry permit holders are well-versed in firearm safety and the responsibilities that come with carrying a concealed weapon.
The new law is also ushering in a new wave of Coloradans looking to exercise their right to self defense. As Douglas County sheriff’s office noted, they are seeing an “all-time high” in applications to concealed carry as the new law takes effect and that they have already issued more concealed carry permits so far in 2025 than they did in all of 2024.
At USCCA, we are committed to continuing to support law-abiding gun owners in navigating these new requirements. Our certified instructors are prepared to provide the necessary training to meet Colorado’s updated standards, ensuring that you are confident and competent in exercising your Second Amendment rights.
While changes in legislation can be challenging, by going through this beneficial training and education, Coloradans can continue to carry safely, responsibly, and legally. As Coloradans navigate this new concealed carry landscape, USCCA is proud to offer training for both first-time permit applicants and those looking to renew who are compliant with HB 24-1174.
Just as we saw a few weeks ago in Michigan, the proper training can assist law-abiding gun owners in stopping potential tragedies before they happen. We are committed to continuing to educate and train concealed carry permit holders in Colorado and throughout the U.S., to ensure that all who concealed carry do so safely and responsibly.
OTHER NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
The Washington Post: Federal Appeals Panel Rules Against Handgun Sales To Buyers Under 21
A federal appeals court panel has upheld a ban on commercial sales of handguns to people ages 18 to 20, a victory for gun-control advocates and Democratic state attorneys general who argued that teenagers should not be given wider access to firearms, given the frequency of mass shootings. The case concerns whether a 1968 federal statute banning handgun sales to people under age 21 — a law that remains in effect for now — is constitutional under a landmark 2022 Supreme Court ruling. The new appeals court decision, and a conflicting one in another judicial circuit, means that the Supreme Court now has an incentive to resolve the dispute.
The Hill: Republicans Restore Bill Language Eliminating $200 Fees For Silencers And Short-Barrel Rifles
Senate Republicans have revised language in President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” to eliminate the $200 tax stamp for firearm silencers — also known as suppressors — and scrap a similar tax stamp for short-barrel rifles. It’s a win for Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, who pushed for the measure. Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough on Friday ruled against a section of the bill that removes regulations pertaining to gun silencers and easily concealable firearms under the National Firearms Act.
The Truth About Guns: Opposition To ATF/DEA Merger Grows
We reported in early June on the Trump Administration plan that would merge the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) into one “super” enforcement agency. At the time, some pro-rights organizations, including the Gun Owners of America (GOA), were sounding the alarm about what group leaders believed could be a dangerous thing for America’s lawful gun owners. Rather than abolishing the ATF, as the organization has called for, GOA believes this plan would strengthen the embattled agency, famous for persecuting lawful gun owners and gun sellers, giving the group more power than ever before.
Oregon Capital Chronicle (Oregon): Oregon Lawmakers Pass Gun Bill To Ban
The Oregon Legislature has voted to ban rapid-fire devices and give local governments new authority to prohibit people from carrying a concealed handgun into certain public buildings. Meanwhile, another bill that aimed to bolster the state’s firearm regulatory network appears to have died. House lawmakers passed Senate Bill 243, called the Community Safety Firearms Act, following a contentious gun safety debate Wednesday night. Democrats passed the bill in a 33-10 vote while Republicans voted against it. The bill has already passed the Senate. The bill would ban rapid-fire accessories like bump stocks that can effectively turn semi-automatic weapons fully automatic. Possessing a rapid-fire device would be a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail.
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