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Colorado Revised Statutes 18-12-111 makes it a criminal offense to purchase or obtain a firearm for a person barred from possessing one. Unlawful purchase of firearms is a Class 4 felony, carrying a fine of up to $500,000 and/or two to six years in jail.
If you have been arrested or charged with a crime, the best decision you can make is to
hire a good criminal defense attorney. With the right defense lawyer in your corner, you
will be advised and guided towards the best outcome for your case.
| Charge | Classification | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Unlawful Purchase of Firearms | Class 4 felony |
|
| (Colo. Rev. Stat. 18-12-111) |
To convict you of a crime, the prosecution has to prove guilt beyond a reasonable of a doubt.
To do this, they must prove the following elements:
A Colorado criminal defense attorney may be able to help you get your charges dismissed or reduced by raising the following defenses.
Your Colorado criminal defense attorney can argue that a charge under CRS 18-12-111 be dropped if the defendant thought the person for whom the weapon was obtained had a legal right to bear arms.
It may be that the person to whom the firearm was transferred did not lose their right to bear arms. A pardon or sealing of records may have allowed someone who had been once forbidden from owning a gun to regain those privileges. To help establish this defense, a competent attorney can identify the source of the disparity.
“(1) Any person who knowingly purchases or otherwise obtains a firearm on behalf of or for transfer to a person who the transferor knows or reasonably should know is ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant to federal or state law commits a class 4 felony.”
Don’t enter a guilty plea before speaking with our criminal defense attorneys in Colorado if you or a loved one has been accused of illegally purchasing a firearm. We’ll thoroughly review your case and recommend the next stages in your defense. Our attorneys at Right Law Group have a wealth of experience in criminal defense. We are skilled in navigating the complex legal system and presenting the best possible evidence to a judge or jury. If you are in or around Colorado Springs, please call our offices for a free consultation.
Licensed gun dealers who neglect to display a notice outlining the provisions of CRS 18-12-111 may be charged with a civil offense punishable by a fine of up to $100. Under federal law 18 USC 922(d), it is unlawful to sell or provide a weapon to someone who is not authorized to own a firearm or ammunition.
A person may not be permitted to own a weapon for several reasons, such as:
It is against state and federal law for someone to use their information on weapon papers to buy a gun for someone who is not legally allowed to own one. This practice, known as straw purchasing, is forbidden since it avoids the background check procedure a person is required to go through when acquiring a firearm.
