Colorado § 18-12-502 - Gun show promoters - requirements - penalties.

§ 18-12-502. Gun show promoters - requirements - penalties.

(1) (a) For each gun show organized and operated by a gun show promoter, the promoter shall prepare a security plan. The security plan must include:

(I) A list of gun show vendors who will participate in the gun show;

(II) The estimated number of attendees;

(III) The number of security personnel retained by the gun show promoter to provide security at the gun show, including the number of security personnel who are certified by the peace officer standards and training board created in section 24-31-302; and

(IV) A floor plan or layout of the event that includes information about the location of the entrances and exits and the location of video cameras that provide video surveillance of the gun show.

(b) Pursuant to subsection (2)(a)(II) of this section, a gun show promoter shall submit the security plan to each local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the gun show.

(2) (a) For each gun show organized and operated by a promoter, the promoter shall:

(I) Have in full force and effect a liability insurance policy that covers losses or damages of at least one million dollars to all persons, arising from an incident that results in injury to a person other than the insured, while the person is in attendance at the gun show. The liability insurance policy must be from an insurer authorized to do business in Colorado or a nonadmitted insurer, as defined in section 10-5-101.2.

(II) No later than fourteen days before the gun show, submit the security plan required by subsection (1) of this section to each local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the gun show;

(III) Obtain, at least three days before the gun show, and retain for six months after the gun show a certification from each gun show vendor that complies with the requirements of section 18-12-504;

(IV) Ensure that all entrances and exits, including fire exits, are either guarded by security personnel or equipped with an alarm system;

(V) Provide video surveillance of the gun show parking area and of the main entrance and main exit during the entire time a gun show promoter has access to the venue, including during vendor setup and takedown, and maintain recordings of the surveillance for six months after the gun show. If the venue conducts video surveillance of the gun show parking area, the gun show promoter is not required to provide additional video surveillance, but the promoter must retain the video surveillance recordings for six months after the gun show as required in this subsection (2)(a)(V).

(VI) Ensure that each firearm brought into the gun show by a person other than a gun show vendor, security personnel, or the gun show promoter is checked and tagged. The tag must state that all firearm transfers between private parties at the show must be conducted through a licensed dealer. In order to bring a firearm into a gun show, a person must sign the tag and the tag must remain on the firearm for the entire time the firearm is at the gun show.

(VII) Prohibit a person under the age of eighteen from entering the gun show unless the person is accompanied by a parent, grandparent, or guardian; except that a promoter may allow a member of the United States armed forces or Colorado National Guard who is on active duty and who is under eighteen years of age to enter the gun show without a parent, grandparent, or guardian upon the member presenting a valid military identification card that demonstrates that the person is a member of the United States armed forces or Colorado National Guard;

(VIII) For each customer who leaves the gun show with a purchased firearm, check that the firearm was delivered in compliance with the waiting period required in section 18-12-115 by requiring a person leaving the gun show with a purchased firearm to demonstrate that the waiting period was complied with or that an exception applies; and

(IX) Post the following notices at each entrance and conspicuously at locations throughout the gun show:

(A) A notice that states: "No one may transfer a firearm without first obtaining a background check through a licensed gun dealer if any part of the transaction occurs on these premises, including the parking facilities. Section 18-12-506, Colorado Revised Statutes"; and

(B) A notice that a firearm left in an unattended vehicle is required to be secured in the vehicle in accordance with section 18-12-114.5.

(b) A gun show promoter who violates a requirement described in subsection (2)(a) of this section commits unlawful gun show management. Unlawful gun show management is a class 2 misdemeanor; except that a second or subsequent offense is a class 1 misdemeanor and, in addition to a penalty imposed in accordance with section 18-1.3-501, the promoter is also prohibited from acting as a gun show promoter for five years, beginning on the date of the conviction for the second or subsequent offense.

Source: L. 2025: Entire part R&RE, (HB 25-1238), ch. 93, p. 418, § 2, effective January 1, 2026.

Editor's note: Prior to its repeal and reenactment, this section was similar to former § 12-26.1-102 as it existed prior to 2018.