Colorado Republicans are urging the U.S. Department of Justice to intervene after Gov. Jared Polis signed a sweeping new gun control law that places strict limitations on the purchase of semi-automatic rifles. The law, Senate Bill 25-003, is drawing fire from state lawmakers and pro-gun organizations who say it unconstitutionally burdens law-abiding citizens and violates Second Amendment protections.
Under SB25-003, the sale or purchase of semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines will be banned unless individuals obtain a “firearms safety course eligibility card” from law enforcement and complete a state-approved training course. The law is set to take effect in August 2026.
In response, 22 Colorado House Republicans signed a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, calling the legislation an emergency for the state. “Because of the unconstitutionality as well as the imminent risk posed to Coloradans by eliminating their right to firearms as a means for self-defense, it is our belief that the passage of SB25-003 constitutes an emergency for our state and calls for federal intervention,” the letter stated.
The call for federal review aligns with the DOJ’s newly launched Second Amendment Task Force, spearheaded by Bondi to counter policies deemed burdensome to gun owners. Bondi said the task force was created to reverse the prior administration’s restrictions on gun rights and to advance President Trump’s pro-Second Amendment agenda.
Pro-gun advocacy groups, including the Colorado State Shooting Association and Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, are also mobilizing against the law. They are collecting signatures for petitions urging DOJ scrutiny and potential legal action.
SB25-003 has sparked a broader conversation about the growing use of red tape and fees to limit access to firearms. The Republican letter criticized the law for placing a “financial and bureaucratic burden on law-abiding citizens,” asserting that the law forces Coloradans to pay steep fees and navigate complex regulations to exercise a constitutional right.
The DOJ has not yet commented on whether it will review Colorado’s law, but the department’s recent investigation into California gun licensing policies suggests similar measures could be taken.
As Colorado prepares for the implementation of SB25-003, opposition is intensifying. With federal backing from the Trump administration’s DOJ and mounting pressure from state Republicans and gun rights groups, legal battles appear increasingly likely.
