Republicans concerned as committee considers ban on certain semi-auto firearms
A bill further restricting firearm access in the state will appear before a committee Tuesday in the Colorado General Assembly.
Colorado Senate Republicans labeled Senate Bill 3 “one of the most extreme gun control bills in Colorado’s history.”
“If passed, SB-003 will ban the sale of the majority of guns in our state,” a statement from the Republicans said.
The bill would prohibit the purchase, manufacturing, distributing, or transferring of a semiautomatic rifle or semiautomatic shotgun with a detachable magazine.
Democrats introduced the bill on the first day of legislative session and it has received support since then, with 17 of the state’s 35 senators already joining in sponsoring the bill.
With Democrats holding a trifecta in the state, it is likely that Republicans will be able to do little to stop the passage of the bill, which would take effect September 1, 2025.
Many different firearms would fall under the legislation, the most notable being AR-15 and AR-style rifles and AK-47 and AK-style rifles. Gas-operated semiautomatic handguns with a detachable magazine would also be prohibited under the bill.
Qualifying firearms already owned by Colorado residents would not be illegal, though they could not transfer or sell them.
Democrats argue the legislation is necessary for safety.
“High-capacity magazines make shootings more lethal by increasing the amount of ammunition that can be fired before a shooter needs to pause to reload,” Senate Democrats said in a statement.
Many pro-firearm advocacy groups have already come out against the legislation, urging Coloradans to share their concerns during the committee meeting.
“We need all freedom-loving Coloradans to show in full force next Tuesday and oppose this egregious violation of our rights,” said Rocky Mountain Gun Owners in a statement.
Considered one of the top states in the nation for “gun law strength,” in the last five years, Colorado has enacted over 30 different gun laws.
Yet, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun violence prevention group, gun violence in the state remains higher than the national average. Nationally, there are 13.7 gun deaths per 100,000 residents, in Colorado that number is 16.6.
