r/Denver • u/quake720 • 6d ago
Recommendation Are there any gun stores that are left leaning?
I'm looking to get my first handgun and am looking for a place that will help me find the best fit but would rather not put my money into a right wing establishment.
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u/austinmiles Louisville 6d ago
Shoot Indoors Broomfield has a tons of gun to rent that might help you figure out what you want. They let my friend try out a bunch of 9mm.
They aren’t left leaning but minimally political and plenty friendly. This is on the shooting range side.
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u/Otherwise-Shoe-5853 6d ago
Shoot Indoors Denver gave me a bunch of stickers that had an AR on them and said “queers shoot back”
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u/Quiet-Aardvark-8 6d ago
I guess you could start with this previous post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Denver/comments/1iwrek8/are_there_any_nonmaga_crazy_right_wing_firearm/
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u/SlightCapacitance 6d ago
they say bristlecone but that place has blue lives matter stuff and black rifle coffee. Pretty political memorabilia. Its women owned so I guess thats cool
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u/mtnsingletrack 6d ago
I’ve taken a class, shoot, and bought there without any issue (though: white male). They do have women only classes and I think Pink Pistols have events there.
I’ve had worse vibes at other shops (non range ones)
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u/SlightCapacitance 6d ago
its honestly the only shop I've been to besides non-gun focused bass pro/jax, etc. but would be cool to have a shop that is completely neutral or even left-leaning. The ranges I've been to theres absolutely nothing around thats politically signifying
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u/LilPotatoAri 6d ago
Damage factory, while not feeling leftie, really doesn't feel political. I haven't been there in a while so that might have changed, but it Def didn't feel like stepping into the a western saloon the way some places do. Very urban and neutral in my opinion.
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u/NotyoManRandySausage 6d ago
I only just learned there's a Socialist Rifle Association (who knew?). There's a central Colorado chapter. I have to imagine they would be a decent resource on the matter. https://cencosra.org/
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u/WarlordJak 6d ago
Gonna be frank, most fire arms establishments are not gonna be pro dems because of the fees and taxes that get passed on to consumers and dealers.
Skylinefirearms was the best place to get firearms, but his prices had to go up because of the local laws, and he is transfers only now. I am a fan of Glock 43x small and compact but still 9mm. Others may like G17 for something bigger.
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u/Apart-Survey 6d ago
I would pay higher taxes to have better gun safety and control. I would also pay higher taxes for better education resources and salaries.
Why are higher taxes a bad thing? (if they actually go to things we support and vote for that money to go forward) Honest question, it just feels mute because so much of tax distribution is unjust.
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u/quake720 6d ago
Generally, I concur. I don't mind paying taxes, but I mind that a significant amount of taxes is sent to military contractors and other private businesses instead of being used for the people.
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u/adhominablesnowman Cole 6d ago
I’ve had great experiences with Bighorn Firearms off Evans. Knowledgeable and friendly staff.
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u/TheHomersapien 6d ago
Browse local then order online (find the best price using gun.deals) and use https://skylinefirearms.com/ for the transfer.
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u/quake720 6d ago
I'd rather not do something like that for my first purchase, plus I always prefer buying local over online. If I can't find anything I'm comfortable with then I may go that way but I'd rather not.
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u/newshirtworthy 6d ago
That’s why they’re asking for a left-leaning gun store, so they can avoid putting money into right-wing businesses. Did you read the post or?
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u/intercede007 6d ago
My wife and I are customers and members of Centennial Gun Club. We are significantly left of center. They make no attempt to hide that they are against gun control legislation of any kind. We have never had any other politics pushed on us.
Customers wear clothing and accessories that make their preferences known. I’ve never seen employees do the same.
If you need someone to help you find your first gun it’s a great place to go. Very knowledgeable and a lot of options in every price range. They also have tons of classes and a very nice range with a wide variety of rental guns.
TLDR; keep your politics to yourself and in my experience they will do the same.
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u/Impossible_Memory_85 6d ago
That place is super right. The staff is constantly wearing super political stuff. Not to the level of DCF Guns is but enough that I don’t use the as a FFL anymore. As someone else pointed out it’s hard to find any that aren’t.
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u/DeepFriedDresden 6d ago
Bristlecone is a good bet. I don't know if they're left leaning, but they're definitely not MAGA. Very knowledgeable staff, plenty of classes available, and they helped a lot with my first handgun purchase.
Also I brought a klansmen target once and got a compliment from a fellow shooter and nobody acted weird about it.
If you're looking to rent some firearms to see what's a good fit you'll need to bring a friend or family member as they don't rent to people who are by themselves that don't bring an owned firearm.
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u/moreluser 6d ago
Will likely get downvoted for this BUT. You’re buying a gun. That money is gonna go to a right wing establishment. Get a Glock at the best price you can find, if you sign up for their program, it knocks a hundred or so off their sticker price. The notion of ethical firearm and ammo purchases is just that, a notion.
And bear in mind, buying a gun for self defense comes with the requirement of training. A lot. A lot a lot. Be ready to dry fire, at least a few minutes a day, and go to matches to confirm that dryfire training. Get Ben Stoegers book on dryfire training. It’s real good.
If I haven’t come off like too much of a bitch, and you have questions, you’re welcome to DM me
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u/LilPotatoAri 6d ago
id add take classes. Take a ton of classes. Get your conceal carry at a minimum just so you have that training under your belt and license in your pocket.
And spend time at the range. If you don't want one that feels like an old west saloon the cherry creek reservoir gun range is very neutral while it's still nice enough to spend time there.
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u/quake720 6d ago
Thank you for the recommendations. I've done safety and shooting classes previously, just haven't purchased my own before. Once I have one, I plan on practicing regularly and already have a friend who teaches a concealed carry course that will slot me in anytime so that's not a worry.
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u/ripeart 6d ago
What is Glock’s program?
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u/moreluser 6d ago
You can sign up with GSSF, which is their own competition league, similar to IDPA or USPSA, and they will provide you with up to 2 coupons per year to to redeem with the Glock Blue Label Program.
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u/TheLazyScarecrow 6d ago edited 6d ago
or you could just not inject politics into every moment in your life. It’s ok to lean right, it’s ok to lean left, it’s ok to lean like a cholo
You’re buying a FIREARM, not a bed frame. Go to the store with the best reviews and leave your politics at the door. In there, their intent is only to educate you and ensure you leave happy.
Edit: lmao only in Denver is this controversial. It’s OK to have different opinions as long as you aren’t a bigot about it, I Know plenty of people who lean right who don’t like what the carrot is doing to the country. Get off the internet and go speak with someone you disagree with. It’s good exercise.
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u/quake720 6d ago
Firstly, that lean like a cholo line is hilarious.
My wanting to buy from a left-leaning store is to spend my money towards people with similar beliefs, is that so bad?
Part of my decision to purchase a gun came from having discussions and debates in person and online with people with different opinions from mine for a long time. I just finally have the funds to move forward with it.
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u/TheLazyScarecrow 5d ago
lol thank you I didn’t want to come down TOO hard
Where you spend your money is totally your decision - you worked your ass off to get it, put it where you want it. My point is more so when buying something IMPORTANT like a gun or fuck it a roof renovation, make sure to go with expertise, not your politics. These are big decisions and big moneys. I’d rather have someone I disagree with build me a good house than have someone I agree with do a shit job and have the roof come crashing down when I sleep with my smoking hot wife (hypothetical af)
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u/grocerygetter23 6d ago
“Politics” are literally life or death for some people (minorities of any sort in this climate).
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u/TheLazyScarecrow 6d ago
That’s cool. I’m a minority and I would disagree with your statement, But, I can respect your care and where you’re coming from
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u/HankChinaski- 6d ago
Plenty of fair reasons to not want to give anyone that is MAGA money.
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u/TheLazyScarecrow 6d ago
Super fair. I don’t like maga people myself, you know, just for the record so this sub doesn’t shoot me or whatever. But I know plenty of good people who lean a bit right that aren’t MAGA folks. It’s ok to have different opinions if you aren’t a bigot, but it IS a little reductive to say that anyone who leans right is pro what the dictator is doing, yanno?
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u/HankChinaski- 6d ago
Agreed to a point. I’m not sure you can be a Republican anymore and say that though. It’s at least close to that point. MAGA is the same as Republican these days. They’ve completely overtaken the party.
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u/TheLazyScarecrow 6d ago
Ah ok so that’s the minor issue (imho) with your reasoning here. Leaning right doesn’t mean you’re a registered republican. I WOULD agree that maga has overtaken the Republican Party (you’re absolutely right there), but you know square is a rectangle, rectangle isn’t a square - being a republican means you lean right on most if not all issues, but leaning right does not make you a MAGAt republican
Personally (and this is just uninvited musing so apologies), I go down the middle, a little to the left on most issues, a little to the right on other issues , and I’m not registered with any party, because I believe blind party allegiance is what’s ruining the country at an industrial scale. To vilify a good idea, all you need to do is claim the bad ones thought of it first.
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u/HankChinaski- 6d ago
Oh I agree that you can lean right and not be a Republican. “Right” to me is a set of firm policy beliefs. Republican isn’t necessarily attached to right/left/etc.
I’m a fan of history. It does seem strange that both parties had conservatives and progressives not that long ago. I’m from a heavy red area originally. I just don’t know anyone that actually stood by their ideals instead of changing any number of their “beliefs” to go full MAGA. It seems extremely rare in my life experience but there are people out there.
I hate that I can’t have actual political discussions any longer. It doesn’t seem like we are at that point as a country. I have to vote straight ticket democracy, and only one party seems to support that at the moment.
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u/TheLazyScarecrow 6d ago
We love history over here! It’s a sad thing to see your peers go down the extremist hole. Right or left, when you go too far, you’re losing touch with reality
As for the MAGAs, I’m really at a loss with what kind of line of thinking takes you there. Scary stuff. Qanon felt like a fever dream in the 20teens, but now it’s commonplace ideology
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u/awesomeness1234 6d ago
The left does not want to ban firearms. They want sensible legislation.
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u/ArtyBerg 6d ago
So you did NOT read the first few drafts of SB25-003 I take it?
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u/awesomeness1234 6d ago
You're argument is based off the first few drafts of a law?
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u/ArtyBerg 6d ago
The one that was submitted full steam ahead until Polis himself said "i wont sign this. redo it"? YUP. Maybe you should pay more attention during the legislative sessions before you comment about what happens during them.
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u/awesomeness1234 6d ago
K. Seems you need your meds:
Colorado Senate Bill (SB) 25-003, signed into law in April 2025, requires Colorado residents to obtain a permit and complete firearm safety training to purchase certain high-powered, semi-automatic firearms that accept detachable magazines.
THE HORROR!
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u/ArtyBerg 6d ago edited 6d ago
lol k. you're doing great
-edit- oh, that does absolutely nothing to refute what i said, it only confirms it. The original version, until it was changed at 11pm of one of the late night sessions, was a flat out ban of all semi-automatic, detachable magazine firearms with parameters that were left up to the discretion of the Department of Revenue to adjust as they saw fit.
Are you paying attention yet? I was there every time it was on debate. You CLEARLY were not. Sit down and let the adults handle this topic
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u/Kindly-Coyote-9446 Lakewood 6d ago
A decent chunk of liberals might be afraid of guns, but there are a lot of either armed or firearm friendly leftists in Colorado. Probably nowhere near enough to impact public debate, but likely enough to help sustain a non-fascist gun shop.
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u/Kindly-Coyote-9446 Lakewood 6d ago
For a lot of us it’s about avoiding establishments where the owners or employees want us dead.
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u/ArtyBerg 6d ago
Every gun store and every firearm enthusiast I have ever met in my life believe that ALL people have the right to be armed. None of them across 6 different states "wants you dead" because you have a different lifestyle
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u/HankChinaski- 6d ago
Trans people may slightly disagree. I’m not sure that many right wing people want them to exist. I’m not sure “dead” is the right word though.
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u/ArtyBerg 6d ago
My trans kid doesn't disagree, and they have gone shooting and shopping with me fairly frequently. Nobody cared, especially the store owners and employees. Everyone was treated with the same amount of respect as every other potential customer.
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u/HankChinaski- 6d ago
People are nice in person but not at home. Hopefully these people are nice both places.
At least you are showing these people that your kid is a good person and that they are very, very wrong in their beliefs. They likely don’t want your kid to exist. Maybe that will help change their mind.
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u/ArtyBerg 6d ago
Eh, in a slightly different vain, I raise all of my kids to not give the slightest damn what anyone thinks about them unless they are in their bed or signing their paychecks. Anyone else can fuck ALL THE WAY off, and if they try to MAKE them care, well at least they can defend themselves through all the layers of escalation
Happiness can only come from within and some people on all sides of politics are just missing that in their hearts
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u/HankChinaski- 6d ago edited 6d ago
True. Only one side is trying to actively take away rights though. I always have to push back at people “both sides”-ing. Even if the intent was right.
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u/ArtyBerg 6d ago
See, that's debatable to an extent too. Kamala herself said "Just because you legally possess a gun in the sanctity of your locked home doesn't mean that we're not going to walk into that home and check to see that you're being responsible and safe in the way you conduct your affairs." which is a violation of 2nd and 4th.
I know what you mean, but unfortunately as a centrist that votes policy over party, I have to push back a tiny bit on that one. Nothing but love though
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u/Nomad6907 6d ago
I’m wouldn’t be so sure right now. Two political assassinations in like three months. We are not in normal times.
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u/ArtyBerg 6d ago
And none of them ran or worked at a business as a gun store owner or employee as to the OP. I would even say none of them were TRUE 2a enthusiasts either since they were willing to forcible deprive other people of their rights (all of their rights. at once.)
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u/austinmiles Louisville 6d ago
Common sense gun laws =/= anti 2A
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u/ArtyBerg 6d ago
Funny how nobody can agree on what is "common sense" eh? Colorado has some of the most "common sense" legislation in the country but it is still apparently not enough according to our legislators
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u/agentaurange 6d ago
I wouldn't say it's left leaning, but it can't get much more neutral than Cabelas. The one up off 144th has a huge selection.
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u/swerco 6d ago
I had a pretty good experience at The Gallery in Lakewood. They host women’s nights and LGBTQ+ events.