The way I’m reading this article is the bill is getting muddled down in process. The Republicans in this legislature are showing some spine. Hopefully this continues and the bill gets killed off.


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Colorado Democrats, Republicans clash over proposal to ban sale of certain semiautomatic weapons

Democrats and Republicans clashed on Friday over a bill that would restrict the purchase of semiautomatic firearms with detachable magazines to only those who complete a hunter safety training.

House Republicans offered 50 amendments to the measure.

As originally proposed, Senate Bill 003 would ban the sale and purchase of semiautomatic firearms with detachable magazines but was amended to allow such purchases if people completed a hunter safety education course managed by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

It's the latest in a string of measures over the years that proponents said would curb violence. Critics said it would infringe on residents' Second Amendment rights, while doing nothing to actually prevent violence.

"It will not impact a single firearm you presently own," said Sen. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, who called the bill a "pathway forward" to reducing gun-related violence.

"This will be about the next one, possibly the first one for the next mass shooter in our state," he said.

Sullivan's son, Alex, was killed in the Aurora movie theater shooting in 2012.

As envisioned, the bill would not apply to firearms purchased before Sept. 1, 2025.

The bill faced criticism from Second Amendment advocates, who argued that it imposes barriers on law-abiding gun owners and forces the state's wildlife agency to take on responsibilities beyond its scope.

Rep. Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, told his colleagues they should be concerned about the bill's fiscal impact, regardless of how they feel about the policy.

"We have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that every dollar spent by the state is used effectively and efficiently," he said.

The bill's fiscal note assumes 50,000 Coloradans would pay the $40 to apply for course eligibility cards, bringing in about $2 million to the proposed Firearms Training and Safety Course Cash Fund. The fiscal note also estimates $1.4 million in expenses to the Department of Natural Resources and Department of Revenue to pay for three additional full-time employees and new computer systems.

Calculations by House Republican staff assumed 75,000 individuals would apply for the eligibility card, putting the actual cost of the measure at $6.6 million, with $5.5 million in revenue and 35 full-time employees.

"From a budgetary standpoint, where I spend the bulk of my time, these are very important factors to consider," said Taggart.

Rep. Ron Weinberg, R-Loveland, said the bill presents not just a policy problem but also a "financial boondoggle."

"This bill imposes new bureaucratic systems, creates costly mandates, and places a series of unfunded burdens on both individuals and local governments, all while failing to deliver measurable improvements to public safety," he said. "The funding for this system is being offloaded on the people who are just trying to exercise their constitutional rights."

Rep. Anthony Hartsook, R-Parker, expressed worries about taking diverting wildlife funds from conservation and park maintenance efforts to gun safety education programs and eligibility cards, particularly at a time when the state is facing a budget deficit of more than $1 billion.

"How is this funding mechanism that we're doing here going to impact CPW's ability to maintain the parks that are out there?" he asked. "How are they going to function in the state of Colorado with their primary mission for parks and wildlife?"

Earlier, Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, argued that

"military style" weapons have no place in civilian society. Firearms are the No. 1 cause of death for American kids and teens, he said.

"As a former public school teacher who is the parent of three children in our public schools, there is not a day that goes by, not a single day, that I don't worry," he said. "And I know I'm not alone in that."

Sponsors said the bill is intended to remedy a loophole in the state's high-capacity magazine ban, which prohibits the sale and purchase of magazines that hold more than 15 rounds of ammunition. Even though the ban has been in effect for over a decade, proponents said they've been to multiple businesses around the state that still sell high-capacity magazines.

During Friday's debate, lawmakers drifted in and out of the House chamber.

At one point, one of the bill's cosponsors was even seen driving away from the Capitol. According to House Majority Leader Monica Duran, representatives are not permitted from leaving the building during debate without asking to be excused.

Fucking tyrannical bastards think they can tell other people what their God-given rights are. Oh, how I despise them. And the way they stand on the graves of children and attempt this filthy emotional blackmail is disgusting.

They are punishing their neighbors because their kids got murdered(or so they say) by a woke-infected lunatic that their own ideology created.

Just read that the store where I have purchased almost all of my firearms is closing its doors at the end of the month after only 14 years in business. They transitioned from a pawn shop/guns to only guns a few years ago. The 3 day waiting period is probably largely responsible and I haven't purchased from them since (1/2 hr drive). I'm sad and pissed but grateful for the business I had with them over the years. Colorado needs to be Doged post haste.

Well, the idiots down at the Colorado state capitol passed the onerous SB 25-3. We are down, but not out. I urge everyone to call and write the governor and demand he not sign this horrific legislation. Thanks.

^he won't sign it. It will just sit on his desk for 30 days and become law. Or he will veto it, or, assuming the senate, after passing it the first time, sees this new bill that has more than doubled in size and the Dim senators actually put the People first, not likely. It would require 3 or 4 democrats to flip.

At least out of state ammo sales should still be allowed (with the new tax), since unions git involved.

Senate passed it. Now to sit on Policker's desk. State is run by obese women and Tom Sullivan ruined his son's legacy. Wolverines!!

Tomorrow, March 31st is the last day you can make firearms and ammunition purchases without getting stuck with the ridiculous and illegal 6% excise tax.

Don't miss a chance to flip off the state gov.

^^^^^^. Don’t go to Sportsman’s Warehouse for a firearm purchase. They don’t finalize the purchase till after the 3 day waiting period. That means, the new BS tax would apply. Found that out yesterday when I went to buy a Bodyguard 2.0. When the sales guy told me that, I promptly walked out.

^ realized that's an additional $32.50 on a $500 gun. Ouch. Haven't seen or wanted anything for a year or so, but I did get some new sights off Amazon a couple days ago. I'll have to see if they added the tax in a couple days. We're gonna have to follow the money carefully.

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills...20safety%20and%20gun

Let’s see if this makes any waves. Hopefully so. Not sure why they waited till the last day to file.

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NRA sues to stop ammunition, firearm excise tax approved by Colorado voters

DENVER (KDVR) — The National Rifle Association joined a number of organizations, alongside an El Paso County resident, suing to stop a 6.5% excise tax on ammunition and firearms that’s set to go into effect on April 1.

Proposition KK was passed by voters in November with 54.4% of voters affirming the tax, or about 1.68 million voters. The tax revenue would be allocated to school security and mental health services for veterans, domestic and other violence victims and at-risk youth.


The lawsuit was filed Monday in Denver District Court against Heidi Humphreys, who is the executive director of the Colorado Department of Revenue, and Michael Allen, who is the district attorney for El Paso County.

The lawsuit seeks to overturn the tax, citing it as an unfair burden on lawful gun owners and firearms industry businesses. The NRA specifically asked for a declaratory judgment calling the tax unconstitutional and a permanent injunction to prevent enforcement of the tax.

“Colorado’s firearms excise tax is an overt assault on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Coloradans and a deliberate attempt to discourage the exercise of constitutionally protected freedoms,” said John Commerford, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, in an announcement of the lawsuit. “Recently, anti-gun activists in Colorado have been adopting California’s radical gun control agenda to systematically erode gun rights in the state. We are pleased to join with other Second Amendment advocates in this lawsuit to protect and defend the fundamental right to keep and bear arms.”

The lawsuit’s plaintiffs include the Colorado State Shooting Association, the NRA, Firearms Policy Coalition, Second Amendment Foundation, Magnum Shooting Center — which was described as a leading Colorado firearms retailer.

The groups are contending that the tax violates the Second Amendment and that it unfairly targets and singles out gun owners and retailers.

“This tax is a direct attack on our Second Amendment freedoms,” said Huey Laugesen, executive director of the Colorado State Shooting Association, in a release. “Law-abiding Coloradans already pay state and local sales taxes on firearm and ammunition purchases, and now the state is layering on this punitive measure. Alongside our partners, we’re holding the state accountable in court to defend Coloradans’ right to keep and bear arms without assuming additional tax burdens not placed on others.”

The measure is estimated to raise $39 million in state taxes annually.