A bill placing strict limitations on the sale of some semiautomatic firearms is now going to Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ (D) desk.
The bill summary for Senate Bill 3 explains that the legislation requires a division of parks and wildlife to create a firearms training and safety course system to record “persons who hold a valid firearms course card and who have completed a hunter education course, a basic firearms safety course, or an extended firearms safety course.” The bill further defines a “rapid-fire device” as a dangerous weapon under state law.
“The bill prohibits knowingly manufacturing, distributing, transferring, selling, or purchasing a specified semiautomatic firearm; except that a person may transfer a specified semiautomatic firearm to an individual residing in another state or a federally licensed firearm dealer,” the summary explains.
Democrat State Senator Tom Sullivan, the bill’s sponsor, said, “High-capacity magazines are what put the ‘mass’ into mass shootings, which is why over a decade ago Colorado Democrats passed legislation to prohibit magazines that hold over 15 rounds of ammunition. This legislation is another in the list of policies I have worked on to develop evidence-based solutions and reduce gun violence of all types.”
“The people of Colorado have mandated that we do something about the public health crisis that is gun violence, so that’s what we’re going to do,” Sullivan stated.
El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal condemned the bill, saying the bill fails to “hold criminals accountable and make Colorado a safer, more prosperous place for families and businesses.”
“I hope Governor Polis will listen to public safety experts and veto SB 25-003 rather than cave to political pressure by signing the bill,” Roybal said. “However, if SB 25-003 becomes law, I am already making plans to ensure the constitutional rights of the citizens of El Paso County are safeguarded by our overzealous state government. My Office will communicate these plans to our citizens as soon as possible.
