Denver Carry Ban Becomes Latest Fight for Nationwide Gun Rights
October 7, 2026 • By Duncan Johnson, Editor in Chief
Four carry permits still leave Gene Hoffman unable to carry publicly for self-defense in Denver. FPC’s lawsuit challenges the restrictions. Composite illustration by AmmoLand News using a firearm photo by Duncan Johnson and an AI-generated background.
Gene Hoffman holds concealed-carry permits from California, Utah, Arizona, and Florida, but none allows him to carry a handgun publicly for self-defense when he visits Denver. According to a federal lawsuit brought by Hoffman and Firearms Policy Coalition, Colorado’s residency and reciprocity restrictions combine with Denver’s open-carry ban to leave him without a lawful avenue to exercise that right, even though he is willing and otherwise able to meet Colorado’s permit requirements.
FPC and Hoffman filed Hoffman v. City and County of Denver on September 29 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. Their October 6 amended complaint challenges the denial of public carry to otherwise-qualified visitors and seeks access to Colorado carry licenses for Hoffman and similarly situated individuals, including FPC members. The case confronts a problem familiar to traveling gun owners: a collection of permits can still leave an American disarmed at his destination. … 
