Colorado Democrats are coming for your guns. Governor Polis is poised to sign a sweeping gun control bill that will ban most semiautomatic weapons and create burdensome new vetting protocols for firearm purchases in the state.
At a glance:
- Colorado’s SB25-003 would ban manufacture, sale, and transfer of most semiautomatic weapons
- The bill affects AR-15s, AK-47s, tactical shotguns, and some handguns
- Prospective buyers must get sheriff approval and complete up to 12 hours of training
- Republicans and some Democrats opposed the bill, arguing it redefines rights as privileges
- If signed, the law will take effect in August 2026, with gun rights groups planning legal challenges
Democrats Target Second Amendment Rights
Colorado’s Democrat-controlled legislature has approved a controversial gun control bill that would ban the manufacture and sale of most semiautomatic weapons in the state. The legislation, Senate Bill 3, cleared its final procedural hurdles and now heads to Governor Jared Polis, who is expected to sign it despite initial concerns about its broad scope.
And Republicans are rightly concerned about it.
The sweeping restrictions would affect “most semiautomatic rifles as well as some semiautomatic pistols and shotguns” with detachable magazines, fundamentally altering Coloradans’ access to firearms. The bill creates a complex vetting system requiring sheriff approval and mandatory training courses for anyone seeking to purchase these firearms.
Republican Opposition and Democratic Defections
The bill passed the Senate with a 19-15 vote, with three Democrats joining all Republicans in opposition to the measure. In the House, the margin was 36-28, with seven Democrats breaking ranks to vote against it, showing significant bipartisan concern about the constitutionality of the legislation.
Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen voiced strong opposition to the proposed law, stating: “If we allow the government to redefine rights as privileges, which I argue this bill does, then we place our freedoms at the mercy of those in power.”
The legislation classifies unlawful activities related to these firearms as a class 2 misdemeanor for first offenses and a class 6 felony for subsequent violations. It also maintains existing penalties for possession of large-capacity magazines, treating them as class 1 misdemeanors.
Implementation and Legal Challenges Ahead
If signed by Governor Polis, the law won’t take effect until August 2026, giving gun owners and dealers significant lead time before restrictions kick in – but it doesn’t make it any better in the long run. The delayed implementation was one of several amendments made to make the bill more palatable to moderate Democrats and the governor.
The law would not affect existing firearms or their possession, focusing instead on new sales and transfers. However, it grants county sheriffs substantial authority to deny applications, with rejected applicants having the right to sue if they believe they were wrongfully denied.
Gun rights groups have already announced plans to challenge the law in court if Polis signs it. The legal battle will likely center on whether the restrictions violate the Second Amendment and recent Supreme Court rulings that have strengthened protections for gun ownership rights.
