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New 2013 Colorado Gun Law In Domestic Violence Cases Applies Further Protection / Restraining Order Restrictions On Second Amendment Rights

By H. Michael Steinberg – Colorado Domestic Violence Crimes Defense Lawyer – Attorney

New 2013 Colorado Gun Law In Domestic Violence Cases

New 2013 Colorado Gun Law In Domestic Violence Cases Applies Further Protection / Restraining Order Restrictions On Second Amendment Rights – In 2013 – the governor or Colorado and the state legislature broadened the extent and therefore the impact of what are called 18-1-1001 criminal case restraining orders. Similar provisions were passed for civil restraining orders under. This article addressees what are commonly called “Title 18” or criminal mandatory restraining orders in domestic violence cases.

The New Law – Adds New Language To The Standard Criminal “Title 18” Mandatory Restraining Order

In Colorado Domestic Violence cases, at the time the defendant is first advised of the charges, a protection order enters that prohibits the defendant – the accused from possessing firearms. This is true at the time a court convicts a person of either misdemeanor or felony domestic violence crimes.

The order – in either situation – is the same, the person is prohibited from possessing or controlling firearms or other weapons. The court is required to order the person to relinquish any firearm or ammunition in the person’s immediate possession or control or that is subject to the person’s immediate possession or control.

New 2013 Colorado Gun Law In Domestic Violence Cases – Time Limits To Comply With The Court Order To Divest Of Firearms

Again – in either case – the defendant who is served in court with a protection order at first advisement to prevent domestic violence, or the person who is served with a mandatory protection order that prohibits them from possessing or controlling firearms or other weapons, all firearm and ammunition must be relocated within 24 hours.

On the other hand – a person who is served outside of the court with a protection order to prevent domestic violence, such as in the case of a civil protection order, that person must relinquish any firearm or ammunition within 48 hours.

Finally, the court has the authority to allow up to 72 hours to comply with the orders IF that person can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the court that he or she is unable to comply within 24 or 48 hours time deadlines as they may apply to the case.

Methods That The “Restrained Party” Can Use To Satisfy The New Colorado Domestic Violence Gun Law Requirements

To comply with the Court’s Orders, the restrained person may:

Sell or transfer possession of the firearm or ammunition to a federally licensed firearms dealer;

Arrange for the storage of the firearm or ammunition by a law enforcement agency;

or

Sell or transfer the firearm or ammunition to a private party; except that the person shall not transfer a firearm or ammunition to a private party unless the private party has been approved to possess or purchase a firearm pursuant to a background check of the national instant criminal background check system.

What If The Restrained Party Is Incarcerated And Cannot Comply?

If the restrained party cannot comply with the Court’s orders as enumerated above, that is, the restrained party cannot comply because they are in jail or otherwise incarcerated, the judge, as a condition of the person’s sentence, shall require that person to relinquish any firearm or ammunition in the person’s immediate possession or control or that is subject to the person’s immediate possession or control before the restrained party may be released from that incarceration or legal custody.

If The Restrained Person Sells or Transfers The Firearm Or Ammunition

If a restrained person sells or otherwise transfers a firearm or ammunition to a private party, the restrained person must obtain:

From the transferee, a written receipt acknowledging the transfer, which receipt shall be dated and signed by the person and the transferee;

and

From the licensed gun dealer who requests from the Colorado bureau of investigation a background check of the transferee, a written statement of the results of the background check.

If a local law enforcement agency elects to store firearms or ammunition for a person:

The agency may charge a fee for such storage, the amount of which shall not exceed the direct and indirect costs incurred by the agency in providing such storage;

and

The agency may establish policies for disposal of abandoned or stolen firearms or ammunition.

A federally licensed firearms dealer who takes possession of a firearm or ammunition, and a law enforcement agency that stores a firearm or ammunition, shall issue a receipt to the person who transfers possession of the firearm or ammunition.

The Requirement Of The Filing Of A Receipt With The Court – Warrants For Arrest For Violation of The Protection Order

The restrained party has NOT MORE THAN 3 calendar days after relinquishing the firearm or ammunition, to file a copy of the receipt with the court as proof – evidence of the relinquishment.

IF the restrained person FAILS TO TIMELY FILE a receipt that person commits a class 2 misdemeanor.

Furthermore, if a restrained person wh is subject to a protection order either possesses or attempts to purchase or receive a firearm or ammunition while the protection order is in effect, that ALSO violates the protection order and constitutes the misdemeanor crime of violation of a protection order.

Here is a reprint of the new law with the domestic violence sections highlighted.

C.R.S. 18-1-1001 (2013)

18-1-1001. Protection order against defendant

(1) There is hereby created a mandatory protection order against any person charged with a violation of any of the provisions of this title, which order shall remain in effect from the time that the person is advised of his or her rights at arraignment or the person’s first appearance before the court and informed of such order until final disposition of the action. Such order shall restrain the person charged from harassing, molesting, intimidating, retaliating against, or tampering with any witness to or victim of the acts charged. The protection order issued pursuant to this section shall be on a standardized form prescribed by the judicial department and a copy shall be provided to the protected parties.

(2) At the time of arraignment or the person’s first appearance before the court, the court shall inform the defendant of the protection order effective pursuant to this section and shall inform the defendant that a violation of such order is punishable by contempt.

(3) Nothing in this section shall preclude the defendant from applying to the court at any time for modification or dismissal of the protection order issued pursuant to this section or the district attorney from applying to the court at any time for further orders, additional provisions under the protection order, or modification or dismissal of the same. The trial court shall retain jurisdiction to enforce, modify, or dismiss the protection order until final disposition of the action. Upon motion of the district attorney or on the court’s own motion for the protection of the alleged victim or witness, the court may, in cases involving domestic violence as defined in section 18-6-800.3 (1) and cases involving crimes listed in section 24-4.1-302, C.R.S., except those listed in paragraphs (cc.5) and (cc.6) of subsection (1) of that section, enter any of the following further orders against the defendant:

(a) An order to vacate or stay away from the home of the alleged victim or witness and to stay away from any other location where the victim or witness is likely to be found;

(b) An order to refrain from contact or direct or indirect communication with the alleged victim or witness;

(c) An order prohibiting possession or control of firearms or other weapons;

(d) An order prohibiting possession or consumption of alcohol or controlled substances; and

(e) Any other order the court deems appropriate to protect the safety of the alleged victim or witness.

(4) Any person failing to comply with a protection order issued pursuant to this section commits the crime of violation of a protection order and may be punished as provided in section 18-6-803.5.

[HMS – Existing – Domestic Violence Sections]

(5) Before a defendant is released on bail pursuant to article 4 of title 16, C.R.S., the court shall, in cases involving domestic violence as defined in section 18-6-800.3 (1), or in cases of stalking pursuant to section 18-3-602, state the terms of the protection order issued pursuant to this section, including any additional provisions added pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, to the defendant on the record, and the court shall further require the defendant to acknowledge the protection order as a condition of any bond for the release of the defendant. The prosecuting attorney shall, in such domestic violence cases or stalking cases, notify the alleged victim, the complainant, and the protected person of the order if such persons are not present at the time the protection order is issued.

(6) The defendant or, in cases involving domestic violence as defined in section 18-6-800.3 (1), or in cases of stalking pursuant to section 18-3-602, the prosecuting attorney may request a hearing before the court to modify the terms of a protection order issued pursuant to this section. Upon such a request, the court shall set a hearing and the prosecuting attorney shall send notice of the hearing to the defendant and the alleged victim. At the hearing the court shall review the terms of the protection order and any further orders entered and shall consider the modifications, if any, requested by the defendant or the prosecuting attorney.

(7) The duties of peace officers enforcing orders issued pursuant to this section shall be in accordance with section 18-6-803.5 and any rules adopted by the Colorado supreme court pursuant to said section.

(8) For purposes of this section:

(a) “Court” means the trial court or a designee of the trial court.

(a.5) “Protection order” shall include a restraining order entered pursuant to this section prior to July 1, 2003.

(b) “Until final disposition of the action” means until the case is dismissed, until the defendant is acquitted, or until the defendant completes his or her sentence. Any defendant valium sentenced to probation is deemed to have completed his or her sentence upon discharge from probation. A defendant sentenced to incarceration is deemed to have completed his or her sentence upon release from incarceration and discharge from parole supervision.

Domestic Violence Firearms Provisions of 2013

(9) (a) When the court subjects a defendant to a mandatory protection order that qualifies as an order described in 18 U.S.C. sec. 922(g)(8)* LINK, the court, as part of such order:

(I) Shall order the defendant to:

(A) Refrain from possessing or purchasing any firearm or ammunition for the duration of the order; and

(B) Relinquish, for the duration of the order, any firearm or ammunition in the defendant’s immediate possession or control or subject to the defendant’s immediate possession or control; and

(II) May require that before the defendant is released from custody on bond, the defendant shall relinquish, for the duration of the order, any firearm or ammunition in the defendant’s immediate possession or control or subject to the defendant’s immediate possession or control.

(b) Upon issuance of an order pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (9), the defendant shall relinquish any firearm or ammunition not more than twenty-four hours after being served with the order; except that a court may allow a defendant up to seventy-two hours to relinquish a firearm or up to five days to relinquish ammunition pursuant to this paragraph (b) if the defendant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the court that he or she is unable to comply within twenty-four hours. To satisfy this requirement, the defendant may:

(I) Sell or transfer possession of the firearm or ammunition to a federally licensed firearms dealer described in 18 U.S.C. sec. 923, as amended; except that this provision shall not be interpreted to require any federally licensed firearms dealer to purchase or accept possession of any firearm or ammunition;

(II) Arrange for the storage of the firearm or ammunition by a law enforcement agency; except that this provision shall not be interpreted to require any law enforcement agency to provide storage of firearms or ammunition for any person; or

(III) Sell or otherwise transfer the firearm or ammunition to a private party who may legally possess the firearm or ammunition; except that a defendant who sells or transfers a firearm pursuant to this subparagraph (III) shall satisfy all of the provisions of section 18-12-112, concerning private firearms transfers, including but not limited to the performance of a criminal background check of the transferee.

(c) If a defendant is unable to satisfy the provisions of paragraph (b) of this subsection (9) because he or she is incarcerated or otherwise held in the custody of a law enforcement agency, the court shall require the defendant to satisfy such provisions not more than twenty-four hours after his or her release from incarceration or custody or be held in contempt of court.

Notwithstanding any provision of this paragraph (c), the court may, in its discretion, require the defendant to relinquish any firearm or ammunition in the defendant’s immediate possession or control or subject to the defendant’s immediate possession or control before the end of the defendant’s incarceration. In such a case, a defendant’s failure to relinquish a firearm or ammunition as required shall constitute contempt of court.

(d) A federally licensed firearms dealer who takes possession of a firearm or ammunition pursuant to this section shall issue a receipt to the defendant at the time of relinquishment. The federally licensed firearms dealer shall not return the firearm or ammunition to the defendant unless the dealer:

(I) Contacts the bureau to request that a background check of the defendant be performed; and

(II) Obtains approval of the transfer from the bureau after the performance of the background check.

(e) A local law enforcement agency may elect to store firearms or ammunition for persons pursuant to this subsection (9). If an agency so elects:

(I) The agency may charge a fee for such storage, the amount of which shall not exceed the direct and indirect costs incurred by the agency in providing such storage;

(II) The agency may establish policies for disposal of abandoned or stolen firearms or ammunition; and

(III) The agency shall issue a receipt to each defendant at the time the defendant relinquishes possession of a firearm or ammunition.

(f) If a local law enforcement agency elects to store firearms or ammunition for a defendant pursuant to this subsection (9), the law enforcement agency shall not return the firearm or ammunition to the defendant unless the agency:

(I) Contacts the bureau to request that a background check of the defendant be performed; and

(II) Obtains approval of the transfer from the bureau after the performance of the background check.

(g) (I) A law enforcement agency that elects to store a firearm or ammunition for a defendant pursuant to this subsection (9) may elect to cease storing the firearm or ammunition. A law enforcement agency that elects to cease storing a firearm or ammunition for a defendant shall notify the defendant of such decision and request that the defendant immediately make arrangements for the transfer of the possession of the firearm or ammunition to the defendant or, if the defendant is prohibited from possessing a firearm, to another person who is legally permitted to possess a firearm.

(II) If a law enforcement agency elects to cease storing a firearm or ammunition for a person and notifies the defendant as described in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (g), the law enforcement agency may dispose of the firearm or ammunition if the defendant fails to make arrangements for the transfer of the firearm or ammunition and complete said transfer within ninety days of receiving such notification.

(h) If a defendant sells or otherwise transfers a firearm or ammunition to a private party who may legally possess the firearm or ammunition, as described in subparagraph (III) of paragraph (b) of this subsection (9), the defendant shall acquire:

(I) From the transferee, a written receipt acknowledging the transfer, which receipt shall be dated and signed by the defendant and the transferee; and

(II) From the licensed gun dealer who requests from the bureau a background check of the transferee, as described in section 18-12-112, a written statement of the results of the background check.

(i) (I) Not more than three business days after the relinquishment, the defendant shall file a copy of the receipt issued pursuant to paragraph (d), (e), or (h) of this subsection (9) and, if applicable, the written statement of the results of a background check performed on the defendant as described in subparagraph (II) of paragraph (h) of this subsection (9), with the court as proof of the relinquishment. If a defendant fails to timely file a receipt or written statement as described in this paragraph (i):

(A) The failure constitutes a violation of the protection order pursuant to section 18-6-803.5 (1) (c);

and

(B) The court shall issue a warrant for the defendant’s arrest.

(II) In any subsequent prosecution for a violation of a protection order described in this paragraph (i), the court shall take judicial notice of the defendant’s failure to file a receipt or written statement, which will constitute prima facie evidence of a violation of the protection order pursuant to section 18-6-803.5 (1) (c), C.R.S., and testimony of the clerk of the court or his or her deputy is not required.

(j) Nothing in this subsection (9) shall be construed to limit a defendant’s right to petition the court for dismissal of a protection order.

(k) A person subject to a mandatory protection order issued pursuant to this subsection (9) who possesses or attempts to purchase or receive a firearm or ammunition while the protection order is in effect violates the order pursuant to section 18-6-803.5 (1) (c).

(l) (I) A law enforcement agency that elects in good faith to not store a firearm or ammunition for a defendant pursuant to sub-subparagraph (B) of subparagraph (III) of paragraph (b) of this subsection (9) shall not be held criminally or civilly liable for such election not to act.

(II) A law enforcement agency that returns possession of a firearm or ammunition to a defendant in good faith as permitted by paragraph (f) of this subsection (9) shall not be held criminally or civilly liable for such action.

New 2013 Colorado Gun Law In Domestic Violence Cases

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: H. Michael Steinberg – Email The Author  – A Denver Colorado Domestic Violence Criminal Defense Lawyer  – or call his office at 303-627-7777 during business hours – or call his cell if you cannot wait and need his immediate assistance – 720-227-7777.

If you are charged with A Colorado crime or you have questions about [shoplifting or grand theft], please call our office. The Law Offices of H. Michael Steinberg, in Denver, Colorado, provide criminal defense clients with effective, efficient, intelligent and strong legal advocacy. We can educate you and help you navigate the stressful and complex legal process related to your criminal defense issue.

H. Michael Steinberg, is a Denver, Colorado criminal defense lawyer with over 40 years of day to day courtroom experience –  specializing in Colorado Criminal Law along the Front Range.  He will provide you with a free initial case consultation to evaluate your legal issues and to answer your questions with an honest assessment of your options.  Remember, it costs NOTHING to discuss your case.  Call now for an immediate free phone consultation.

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Colorado Defense Lawyer H. Michael Steinberg provides solid criminal defense for clients throughout the Front Range of Colorado – including the City and County courts of Adams County, Arapahoe County, City and County of Boulder, City and County of Broomfield, City and County of Denver, Douglas County, El Paso County – Colorado Springs, Gilpin County, Jefferson County, Larimer County, and Weld County,…. and all the other cities and counties of Colorado along the I-25 Corridor… on cases involving … The New 2013 Colorado Gun Law In Domestic Violence Cases.

• FAQ: Colorado Criminal Defense Law – Domestic Violence Cases and The Right to Refuse to Testify Based on the 5th Amendment’s Right to NOT Incriminate Oneself
• Colorado Domestic Violence Permanent Civil Protection Order Laws – Title 13 and 18
• Understanding The Difference Between Colorado Domestic Violence And Actual Domestic Abuse
• Federal Gun Laws and Colorado Domestic Violence Cases
• Lifting Or Modifying Colorado Civil Restraining – Protection Orders Pursuant to C.R.S. 13-14-108