Unserialized Firearms And Firearm Components

The act defines terms related to federal firearm licenses and firearm components, including "frame or receiver of a firearm" and "unfinished frame or receiver." The act prohibits:

• On and after January 1, 2024, knowingly possessing or transporting an unfinished firearm frame or receiver, unless it has been imprinted with a serial number as required by federal law;
• Knowingly selling, offering to sell, transferring, or purchasing an unfinished firearm frame or receiver, unless it has been imprinted with a serial number as required by federal law;
• On and after January 1, 2024, knowingly possessing, purchasing, transporting, or receiving a firearm or frame or receiver of a firearm that is not imprinted with a serial number;
• Knowingly selling, offering to sell, or transferring a firearm or frame or receiver of a firearm that is not imprinted with a serial number; and
• Manufacturing or causing to be manufactured a frame or receiver of a firearm; unless the manufacturer is a federally licensed firearm manufacturer.

The act includes exceptions for each type of prohibited conduct, including specified exceptions for conduct involving federal firearm licensees and transfers to serialize a frame or receiver.

A person who commits any of the prohibited conduct commits unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver. Unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver is a class 1 misdemeanor; except that a second or subsequent offense is a class 5 felony.

The act requires a person who, on the effective date of the act, owns a firearm, frame, or receiver that the person manufactured and that is not imprinted with a serial number by a federal firearms licensee, to have the firearm, frame, or receiver imprinted with a serial number no later than January 1, 2024.

The act prohibits the Colorado bureau of investigation from approving the transfer of a firearm to a person who was convicted of misdemeanor unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver within 5 years prior to the transfer. A person convicted of felony unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver is prohibited from possessing a firearm or other weapon.

The act permits a federal firearms licensee to imprint a serial number on a firearm or a firearm frame or receiver and establishes a process and requirements for licensees to serialize firearms.

Existing law prohibits possession of a dangerous weapon. The act defines "machine gun conversion device" and makes machine gun conversion devices a dangerous weapon under Colorado law.

APPROVED by Governor June 2, 2023

PORTIONS EFFECTIVE June 2, 2023

PORTIONS EFFECTIVE January 1, 2024
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)