Sec. 10-225. Possession of handguns by juveniles – prohibitions.
(a) Except as provided in this Section, it is unlawful for any person under the age of eighteen (18) years to knowingly have any handgun in such person’s possession.
(b) This Section shall not apply to:
(1) Any person under the age of eighteen (18) years who is:
a. In attendance at a hunter’s safety course of firearms safety course; or
b. Engaging in practice in the use of a firearm or target shooting at an established range authorized by the governing body of the jurisdiction in which such range is located or any other area where the discharge of a firearm is not prohibited; or
c. Engaging in an organized competition involving the use of a firearm or participating in or practicing for a performance by an organized group under 501(c)(3) as determined by the Federal Internal Revenue Service which uses firearms as part of such performance; or
d. Hunting or trapping pursuant to a valid license issued to such person pursuant to Title 33, Article 4, C.R.S.; or
e. Traveling with a handgun in such person’s possession being unloaded to or from any activity described in Subparagraph a., b., c. or d. of this Subsection.
(2) Any person under the age of eighteen (18) years who is on real property under the control of such person’s parent, legal guardian, or grandparent and who has the permission of such person’s parent or legal guardian to possess a handgun.
(3) Any person under the age of eighteen (18) years who is at such person’s residence and who, with the permission of such person’s parent or legal guardian, possesses a handgun for the purpose of exercising the rights contained in Section 18-1-704, C.R.S. (entitled "Use of physical force in defense of a person"), or Section 18-1-704.5, C.R.S. (entitled "Use of deadly physical force against an intruder").
(c) For purposes of this Section, a handgun is loaded if:
(1) There is a cartridge in the chamber of the handgun;
(2) There is a cartridge in the cylinder of the handgun if the handgun is a revolver; or
(3) The handgun and the ammunition for such handgun are carried on the person of a person under the age of eighteen (18) years or is in such close proximity to such person that such person could readily gain access to the handgun and the ammunition and load the handgun.
(d) This Section is declared to be a criminal violation. Upon conviction, the penalties set forth at Section 1-73 of this Code shall apply. (Ord. 1026 § 1, 2009)