Concealed carry permits spike in Denver as new rules loom

By Esteban L. Hernandez | Axios Denver

Obtaining a concealed carry permit in Denver, already home to some of the state’s strictest gun laws, will soon require additional steps.

The big picture: A state law taking effect July 1 will add new requirements for obtaining concealed carry licenses, including mandating eight hours of in-person instruction and passing a live-fire test, where a person must shoot a minimum of 50 rounds.

Why it matters: The new law will add barriers for responsible gun owners, including costlier training for a permit type that’s grown in popularity over the past five years, as Colorado’s gun laws grow increasingly restrictive.

Yes, but: The city’s chief compliance officer, Mary Dulacki, tells us she doesn’t presume the new requirements will affect the number of applicants.

  • Firearms training could be more expensive for applicants, she adds.

By the numbers: Denver issued 2,768 concealed carry permits last year, a 31% jump from 2018, the last year DPD had available due to its retention policy.

  • Those figures include new and renewed permits, which last five years, Denver police spokesperson Jay Casillas tells us.

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