Specified Semiautomatic Firearms Information
Changes to Purchasing a Specified Semiautomatic Firearm Under Senate Bill 25-003
On August 1, 2026, Senate Bill 25-003 will go into effect. Senate Bill 25-003 changes the requirements for the purchase of certain semiautomatic firearms. This new law requires individuals who wish to purchase Specified Semiautomatic Firearms (SSF) obtain a Firearms Safety Course Eligibility Card through their local Sheriff’s Office. Once this card is obtained, the individual may take a state approved course through one of our verified instructors. You can find the list of verified SSF instructors below. After successfully completing the course, individuals may then attempt to purchase a Specified Semiautomatic Firearm.
Apply for a Firearms Safety Course Eligibility Card
To apply for a Firearms Safety Course Eligibility Card, individuals must complete an application through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Individuals may then bring the completed application to their local Sheriff’s Office to finish the process. Documents that must be provided to the Sheriff’s Office include a Colorado State driver’s license or identification card, a name based nationwide criminal and judicial background check from a third party that includes an attestation from the company that the background check was completed as a normal course of business. Please note that the Mesa County Sheriff's Office is unable to assist in any way with the background check requirement.
When the applicant comes into the Sheriff’s Office, a $52.00 fee will be collected on behalf of Colorado Parks and Wildlife for their required fees. The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is not charging an additional fee for our portion of this process. Once approved, the applicant will be issued their Firearms Safety Course Eligibility Card.
Important Links
Frequently Asked Questions
The law requires applicants to provide the Sheriff's Office with a "nationwide name-based background check and attestation from the company performing the background check." The background check must be name based nationwide criminal and judicial and the attestation must state that they conduct these checks as a normal course of their business. We are following this to the letter and we can't recommend any companies to complete background checks. Applicants will need to source this on their own.
Applicants will need to submit their application (completed on the portal), their Colorado driver's license or identification card, the results of the nationwide name-based background check & attestation, and the $52.00 fee for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Applicants can complete the application online through the Colorado Parks and Wildlife portal, but all documents will need to be submitted in person at the Sheriff's Office. At this time, we are not requiring a scheduled appointment. However, this may change depending on application volume.
We are not processing any applications before August 1, 2026.
The Mesa County Sheriff's Office is not charging any additional fees. We do have to collect the $52.00 Colorado Parks and Wildlife fee.
We are able to accept cash, card, or check.
Our goal is to process each application within 30 days of receipt.
At this time we are accepting walk-ins only.
At this time, applications will be accepted during the normal operating hours of the Records Lobby.
Monday - Friday from 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
We are accepting Mesa County residents only. Upon approval, the card will be emailed to the applicant or they may come to the office to pick up a paper copy if they wish.
How to Become an Instructor
The Mesa County Sheriff is responsible for verifying Specified Semiautomatic Firearms (SSF) Safety Course instructors whose principal place to conduct firearms training is in Mesa County. To be a SSF Safety Course instructor, you are required to hold a valid concealed carry permit and hold a Verified Firearms Instructor status through the County Sheriff’s Office of where your principal place to conduct firearms training is at.
Additionally, those wishing to become a Verified SSF Safety Course instructor must take the train-the-trainer course from Colorado Parks and Wildlife before applying through the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office.
Once these steps are completed, you must present the following documents at the time of application:
- Colorado driver’s license or identification card
- Current concealed handgun permit card issued by the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office
- Proof of certification as a firearms instructor, such as an NRA instructor certificate or Colorado POST instructor certificate.
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife instructor number and completion of training certificate from Colorado Parks and Wildlife
There is no fee for this process.
Instructor Application
SSF Instructor Application ADA Version - Fillable (8/3/20266)
Verified Specified Semiautomatic Firearms Instructors
Bacher, Richard: Common Sense Defense Expires: 7/28/2036
Bridge, Terry: Rusty Spur, INC Expires: 6/16/2036
Chandler, Barton: Flyrod 1 LLC Expires: 7/20/2036
Konn, Michael: Action Pistol Group Expires: 7/27/2036
Van Gundy, Colleen: CVG Enterprises/ USCCA Expires: 7/21/2036