If you have heard that Colorado changed its gun laws in 2026, you are right — and if you are trying to sell a firearm, the change matters, but probably not in the way you fear. Here is a plain-English explanation of SB25-003, what it actually changed, and what it means for someone who wants to sell.
What Changed on August 1, 2026
SB25-003, which took effect August 1, 2026, created a new requirement for buyers of certain firearms — called "specified semiautomatic firearms" in the law. Before purchasing one, a buyer must now hold a Firearms Safety Course Eligibility Card, obtained from their county sheriff after completing a verified firearms safety course.
The key point for sellers: the requirement falls on the buyer, not on you. You do not need a card to own, keep, or sell a firearm you already have. But the requirement changes who can buy certain firearms from you, and therefore how you should think about selling them.
The Two Exemptions That Matter Most to Sellers
Two exemptions in the law are directly relevant to families and estates.
First, transfers to a licensed dealer are exempt. When you transfer a firearm to a licensed dealer (FFL), the buyer's eligibility-card requirement does not apply to that transfer. That is why selling through a dealer, or consigning through a dealer, is the simplest path under the new law: the dealer handles the legal side, and the pool of eligible buyers is the dealer's problem to manage, not yours.
Second, transfers to heirs and beneficiaries are exempt. When a firearm passes to an heir or beneficiary on the death of the owner, that transfer is exempt from the eligibility-card requirement. The law was written to avoid trapping families in probate — inheriting a firearm does not require the heir to have a card first.
What Is Covered, and What Is Not
"Specified semiautomatic firearms" is a defined category, roughly:
- Semiautomatic rifles and shotguns that accept a detachable magazine
- Gas-operated semiautomatic handguns that accept a detachable magazine
In practical terms, that includes AR-15 and AK-pattern rifles, most modern semiautomatic shotguns with box magazines, and AR-style pistols.
It does not include most of what families typically inherit: bolt-action rifles, lever-action rifles, pump shotguns, revolvers, and most traditional hunting firearms are not covered by SB25-003. If the gun in question is a bolt-action deer rifle, a pump shotgun, or a revolver, the new law does not change how you can sell it.
What This Means If You Want to Sell
If your firearm is not covered, nothing has changed. You can sell it as before, with the usual Colorado requirement that private transfers go through a licensed dealer for a background check.
If your firearm is covered, a private sale is still possible, but your buyer pool has shrunk: your buyer now needs an eligibility card before purchasing. That can mean a longer wait, a smaller audience, or a lower price if you try to sell privately.
The simplest path, for covered firearms especially, is through a licensed dealer. A dealer sale or consignment sidesteps the eligibility-card issue for your transfer entirely, and a dealer with an established market reaches buyers who already hold cards or are in the process of getting them. At Gun Legacy, consignment runs at a 20% commission — you keep about 80% of the sale price — compared with the 20-30% a gun shop typically takes when buying outright.
What If You Just Want to Keep It?
Owning a covered firearm you already had before August 1, 2026, remains legal. The law does not require registration, and you do not need an eligibility card simply to keep a firearm you own. The card requirement applies to purchasing, not to possession of what you already have.
The Bottom Line
SB25-003 changed the buyer side of the market for certain semiautomatic firearms. It did not make selling illegal, it did not require you to register anything, and it left clear exemptions for dealer transfers and inheritances. The practical effect for most sellers is modest: if you are selling a traditional hunting firearm, nothing changed; if you are selling a covered semiautomatic, selling through a licensed dealer is the cleanest route.
If you are unsure whether a specific firearm is covered, or what your best selling option is under the new law, that is exactly the kind of question a free consultation answers — with the actual firearm in front of us, not a guess from a description.
This is general information about Colorado law, not legal advice. If your situation is complicated, talk to an estate attorney.
Contact Gun Legacy for a free consultation — info@gunlegacy.com or (720) 998-4776. Gun Legacy is based in Parker, CO, and works by appointment. Visit gunlegacy.com for more information, including the free inherited firearm checklist at gunlegacy.com/inherited-firearm-checklist.