Under CRS § 18-12-105.5, Colorado law makes it a crime to possess a deadly weapon on the grounds of any public or private school. If the weapon is a firearm, a conviction carries up to 364 days and/or $1,000 in fines. Otherwise, a conviction is punishable by 1 to 1.5 years in prison (with one-year mandatory parole), and/or a fine of up to $100,000.

To help you better understand the consequences of possessing a weapon at a school, our Denver Colorado criminal defense lawyers discuss:

• 1. What does 18-12-105.5 C.R.S. prohibit?
• 2. Penalties
• 3. Defenses

1. What does 18-12-105.5 C.R.S. prohibit?

Section 18-12-105.5 C.R.S. of the Colorado criminal code makes it a crime to knowingly possess a deadly weapon on the grounds of any public or private:

• elementary school,
• middle school,
• junior high school,
• high school,
• vocational school,
• college,
• university, or
• seminary.

Note that it is not against Colorado law for CCW permit-holders to carry concealed handguns at colleges and universities. But note that private institutions can put limits on concealed carry. And public institutions may be able to ban concealed carry through contractual relationships in certain facilities.

Colorado’s definition of a “deadly weapon”

For purposes of Colorado 18-12-105.5 C.R.S., a “deadly weapon” is defined as:

• A firearm, whether loaded or unloaded; or
• A knife, bludgeon, or any other weapon, device, instrument, material, or substance, whether animate or inanimate, that, in the manner it is used or intended to be used, is capable of producing death or serious bodily injury.¹

Definition of “Knowingly”

A person acts “knowingly” with respect to conduct or to a circumstance described by a statute defining an offense when he is aware that his conduct is of such nature or that such circumstance exists.²

So you act knowingly under 18-12-105.5 C.R.S. when you know that you possess an item on school grounds, even if you don’t know that it meets the Colorado legal definition of a deadly weapon.

Who may lawfully possess a deadly weapon on school grounds?

People with current and recognized CCW permits may carry concealed handguns on college and university grounds, but there may be limits. Private institutions can ban conceal carry. And public institutions may be able to ban it in certain facilities such as dorms through “contractual relationships.”

Otherwise, a person may lawfully possess a gun or other deadly weapon on school grounds if:

• The weapon is unloaded and remains inside a motor vehicle while upon the real estate of any public or private college, university, or seminary; or
• The person is in that person’s own dwelling or place of business or on property owned or under that person’s control at the time of the act of carrying; or
• The person is in a private automobile or other private means of conveyance and is carrying a weapon for lawful protection of that person’s or another’s person or property while traveling; or
• The person is a school resource officer or a peace officer carrying a weapon in conformance with the policy of the employing agency; or
• The person has possession of the weapon for use in an educational program approved by a school which program includes, but shall not be limited to, any course designed for the repair or maintenance of weapons; or
• The person, at the time of carrying a concealed weapon, held a valid written permit to carry the concealed weapon AND:
  • The weapon remains in the permittee’s vehicle and, if the permittee is not in the vehicle, the weapon is in a compartment within the vehicle and the vehicle is locked; or
  • The permittee is employed or retained by contract by a school district or charter school is a school security officer who is on duty; or
  • The permittee has a concealed handgun on undeveloped real property owned by a school district that is used for hunting or other shooting sports.

2. Penalties

Unlawful possession of a deadly weapon (that is not a firearm) at a school is a class 6 felony, carrying:

• 1 – 1 ½ years in prison (with one-year mandatory parole), and/or
• A fine of $1,000-$100,000.

Unlawful possession of a firearm at a school is a class 1 misdemeanor carrying up to 364 days in jail and/or $1,000.

3. Defenses

You are not guilty under 18-12-105.5 C.R.S. unless the weapon was deadly and you knowingly brought it onto school grounds.

So common defenses to possessing a weapon on school grounds often include:

• You possessed a small, legal knife (such as a pocket knife) but did not intend to use it as a weapon;³
• You didn’t know you had the weapon on you;
• You didn’t know you were on school grounds;
• The weapon was lawfully in your car at all times;
• You were lawfully permitted to bring the weapon onto school grounds;
• You didn’t know you had the weapon due to diminished capacity / insanity; or
• The weapon was discovered during an illegal search and seizure in violation of your Fourth Amendment rights.

Colorado Legal Defense Group
4047 Tejon Street
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 222-0330

Arrested in Nevada? See our article about possessing weapons on school property in Nevada.

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