Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit Class
Qualifying Colorado concealed carry training in Pueblo, Colorado — in-person instruction, written competency testing, and live-fire training.
Colorado’s concealed handgun permit training requirements have changed significantly.
If you are applying for a new Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit, qualifying training must now include
at least eight hours of in-person instruction, a written competency examination, and live-fire training.
Have Gun Will Train Colorado provides qualifying concealed handgun permit training in Pueblo for students throughout Southern Colorado.
But this class is about more than meeting the minimum requirements for a certificate. It is about understanding what it means to carry a handgun responsibly.
A concealed handgun permit does not make someone prepared to carry a gun. Training does.
What You Will Learn
Our Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit Class covers the required material while placing particular emphasis on the subjects that matter after you leave the classroom.
- Firearm safety
- Safe handgun handling
- Loading and unloading
- Revolvers and semi-automatic pistols
- Ammunition
- Safe firearm storage
- Shooting fundamentals
- Colorado firearm laws
- Concealed carry laws
- Use of force and deadly force
- Conflict avoidance
- Interactions with law enforcement
- Responsibilities of the concealed handgun permit holder
- Defensive decision-making
- Live-fire handgun competency
The objective is not simply to pass a test. You should leave class with a much better understanding of
what you can do, what you should not do, and what you need to continue practicing.
Don’t Buy a Gun Just for Class
If you do not own a handgun yet, that is fine.
In fact, I would rather have you wait than buy the wrong gun because someone told you it was a good concealed carry handgun.
Handguns are not one-size-fits-all. Hand size, strength, experience, recoil tolerance, intended use, method of carry, and your ability to safely operate the firearm all matter.
We will talk about handgun selection during training. If you need a handgun for the live-fire portion of class, contact me before purchasing one just for the course.
New shooter?
You may also want to look at our
Primary Handgun Skills training
.
New Shooters Are Welcome
You do not have to be an experienced shooter to take the class.
But there is an important distinction between learning to operate a handgun and learning to carry one for personal protection.
Colorado’s concealed carry class has a substantial amount of required material that must be covered. If you have never handled a handgun, cannot comfortably load and unload your firearm, have difficulty operating the slide, or do not understand basic shooting fundamentals, additional handgun instruction may be appropriate.
There is nothing wrong with being a beginner. There is something wrong with pretending a permit class can magically turn a beginner into a competent handgun owner in one day.
Live-Fire Training Is Required
Live-fire training is now a required part of qualifying Colorado concealed handgun permit instruction.
Students complete a minimum 50-round live-fire exercise demonstrating safe firearm handling and basic handgun competency.
Safety is evaluated throughout the exercise.
A written test can tell me whether you understand a safety rule. The range shows me whether you can actually follow it while handling a loaded handgun.
The Written Examination
Students must also successfully complete the required written competency examination.
Our examination is open book.
I am not interested in seeing how well you memorize statute numbers. I want you to understand the principles well enough to recognize a problem when you see one.
Carrying a Gun Is About Judgment
Some of the most important concealed carry skills have nothing to do with shooting.
They involve recognizing trouble early, avoiding unnecessary confrontation, controlling your emotions, communicating when appropriate, and knowing when to leave.
A concealed handgun permit does not give you police powers. It does not make you responsible for fixing every problem you see. And a handgun is not a tool for winning arguments or controlling other people.
Talk First. Shoot Last.
The objective is not to find a reason to use your firearm. The objective is to go home safely.
Colorado Deadly-Force Law
If you carry a handgun for self-defense, understanding Colorado law is every bit as important as knowing how to shoot it.
We discuss Colorado laws involving self-defense, defense of others, deadly force, protection of your home, firearm possession, prohibited locations, and other issues concealed handgun permit holders need to understand.
We also spend time discussing situations that are not neatly answered by simply memorizing a statute. Those are often the situations where judgment matters most.
For a good example of why identification and judgment matter, read
Before You Press the Trigger
.
About Your Instructor
Have Gun Will Train Colorado has provided firearms training in Southern Colorado since 2010.
Rick Sindeband
is a verified Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit instructor and has trained thousands of students in handgun safety, concealed carry, defensive firearms, and responsible gun ownership.
HGWTC is a full-time firearms training school, not an occasional concealed carry class.
That matters because firearms training is not something we do once a month on the side. It is what we do.
Our goal:
Give responsible gun owners the knowledge and skills they need to make better decisions with firearms.
After You Complete Your Training
Successful completion of the course provides you with the training certificate needed as part of your Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit application.
The certificate is not the permit.
You must apply through the appropriate Colorado county sheriff’s office. The sheriff handles the permit application, fingerprints, photograph, background investigation, fees, and final determination of eligibility.
Because application procedures and fees can change, check directly with your county sheriff for current requirements.
Pueblo County applicants can review current information directly from the
Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office Concealed Handgun Permit page
.
Initial Permit or Renewal?
New Colorado CHP Applicant
If you are applying for your first Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit, you need qualifying initial training.
Existing Colorado CHP Holder
If you already have a Colorado concealed handgun permit and need to renew it, you should take our renewal/refresher training instead.
Colorado CHP and SB25-003 Are Different Programs
There is understandable confusion between Colorado’s Concealed Handgun Permit and the newer SB25-003 Firearms Safety System.
They are not the same program.
A Colorado CHP concerns carrying a concealed handgun. The Firearms Safety System concerns the purchase or transfer of certain specified semiautomatic firearms.
Different purpose. Different requirements. Different process.
If you are trying to determine which training you need, review our
Colorado Firearms Safety System training information
or contact us before signing up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a Colorado concealed carry class?
Qualifying initial Colorado concealed handgun permit training requires at least eight hours of instruction.
Can I take the class online?
No. Qualifying Colorado CHP training must be conducted in person.
Do I have to shoot?
Yes. Current Colorado requirements include a live-fire exercise involving at least 50 rounds.
Do I need to own a handgun?
No. Do not purchase a handgun solely because you think you need one for class. Contact us first and we can discuss your options.
Is this class appropriate for a beginner?
Yes, but someone with little or no handgun experience may benefit from basic handgun instruction in addition to the CHP course.
Does passing the class mean I automatically get a permit?
No. Successful completion provides the required training certificate. Your county sheriff determines permit eligibility and issues the permit.
How long is a Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit valid?
Colorado concealed handgun permits are generally valid for five years.
Concealed Carry Training in Southern Colorado
Have Gun Will Train Colorado is based in Pueblo and regularly trains students from Pueblo, Pueblo West, Cañon City, Florence, Penrose, Fremont County, Colorado Springs, Walsenburg, Trinidad, La Junta, Westcliffe, and communities throughout Southern Colorado.
If you are looking for the cheapest certificate you can find, we are probably not the right school.
If you want to understand firearm safety, Colorado law, handgun handling, and the responsibility you are accepting when you decide to carry a gun, you are in the right place.
Schedule Your Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit Class
Have Gun Will Train Colorado
Pueblo, Colorado
Serving Southern Colorado gun owners since 2010