I don't think this law will really have any practical effect at all. I'm all for it, in terms of clearing things up a bit on out of state purchases, but in my opinion it was never illegal for a CO resident to purchase a long gun from a dealer in a non-contiguous state. I think the biggest benefit of the new law will be for democrats, including Hickenlooper, who can now say they voted for and/or signed pro-gun legislation. That's pretty much it.

The old statute read:

12-27-102. Legislative declaration - residents

(1) It is declared by the general assembly that it is lawful for a resident of this state, otherwise qualified, to purchase or receive delivery of a rifle or shotgun in a state contiguous to this state, subject to the following restrictions and requirements:

(a) The sale must fully comply with the legal conditions of sale in both such contiguous states;

(b) The purchaser and the licensee must have complied, prior to the sale or delivery for sale of the rifle or shotgun, with all of the requirements of section 922 (c) of the federal "Gun Control Act of 1968", applicable to interstate transactions other than at the licensee's business premises.
That law simply states that a CO resident can purchase in contiguous states. It doesn't say anywhere that a CO resident can't purchase in a non-contiguous state.

It was pretty much the same for non-residents buying in this state:

12-27-101. Legislative declaration - nonresident

(1) It is declared by the general assembly that it is lawful for a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or a licensed collector (licensed under the federal "Gun Control Act of 1968") whose place of business is in this state to sell or deliver a rifle or shotgun to a resident of a state contiguous to this state, subject to the following restrictions and requirements:

(a) The purchaser's state of residence must permit such sale or delivery by law.

(b) The sale must fully comply with the legal conditions of sale in both such contiguous states.

(c) The purchaser and the licensee must have complied, prior to the sale or delivery for sale of the rifle or shotgun, with all of the requirements of section 922 (c) of the federal "Gun Control Act of 1968" applicable to interstate transactions other than those at the licensee's business premises.
I can tell you as an FFL I sold plenty of long guns over the counter in my shop to residents of states that are not contiguous to CO and the transaction was approved by CBI. This statute, again, just says that residents of contiguous states can buy long guns here from a dealer. It doesn't say that residents of non-contiguous states can't buy here.

Obviously, according to both statutes the sale must comply with the laws of the purchasers other state as well. But, in my opinion, to read into either of those statutes that purchases/sales to residents of non-contiguous states is not permitted is incorrect.