A new Colorado law aimed at making it more difficult to obtain a concealed handgun permit spurred a triple-digit spike in applications in Larimer and Weld counties before going into effect. The law, HB24-1174, added additional criteria to make obtaining a concealed handgun permit more timely and educational.
The law, which was signed by Gov. Jared Polis in 2024, went into effect on July 1 of this year.
However, in the final weeks leading up to the law going into effect, the two most populated counties in Northern Colorado saw applications spike. Weld County, known for its conservative roots, saw applications rise more than 300% at the deadline as residents tried to obtain their permit under the previous, less-stringent guidelines…