- Colorado Senate narrowly passes bill banning many semiautomatic firearms, including AR-15 rifles.
- The bill, SB25-003, now heads to the Colorado House, facing strong opposition from gun rights advocates.
- Democrats amended the bill to allow purchases with four-hour training and background checks to gain broader support.
- Three Democratic senators voted against the bill, citing concerns for law-abiding gun owners and potential recall risks.
In a move that has ignited fierce debate over gun rights, the Colorado Senate passed a bill this week banning the sale and transfer of many semiautomatic firearms, including popular rifles like the AR-15 and certain shotguns.
The bill, SB25-003, passed by a narrow 19-15 vote, with all supporting votes coming from Democrats. The legislation now heads to the Colorado House, where Second Amendment advocates vow to fight its passage.
The bill defines a “specified semiautomatic firearm” as any semiautomatic rifle or shotgun with a detachable magazine, as well as gas-operated semiautomatic handguns with detachable magazines. While the bill prohibits the manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale, or purchase of these firearms, it includes exemptions for inheritance, out-of-state transfers, and sales to federally licensed dealers.
Ian Escalante, executive director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, a Second Amendment advocacy group, called the bill “a historic assault on our Second Amendment rights in Colorado.” He argued that the legislation effectively turns gun ownership into a privilege rather than a right. “They are trying to turn the right to own a gun into a privilege. It is a major infringement and one of the worst gun control bills in U.S. history,” Escalante said.
The bill’s proponents, however, argue that it is a necessary step to reduce gun violence. Democratic State Senator Tom Sullivan, whose son was killed in the 2012 Aurora movie theater shooting, passionately defended the bill during Senate debates. “This is the high-capacity magazine that my son’s killer brought into the movie theater,” Sullivan said, holding up a photo. “When this magazine jammed after 72 shots, the dying stopped.”
Compromises and controversies
To secure broader support, Democrats amended the bill to allow individuals to purchase banned firearms if they complete a four-hour training course and pass a background check. Those without hunter safety certification would face additional training requirements. Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat with libertarian leanings, has signaled his support for the amended version.
Despite these concessions, the bill faced significant pushback, even from within the Democratic Party. Three Democratic senators—Tony Exum, Marc Snyder, and Nick Hinrichsen—voted against the bill, citing concerns over its impact on law-abiding gun owners. Exum, who initially supported the bill, reversed his position after facing pressure from constituents and threats of a recall. “I couldn’t risk the fact of possibly losing my seat through a recall,” Exum said.
What’s next for the bill?
The bill now moves to the Colorado House, where it is expected to pass given the Democratic majority. If approved, it will head to Governor Polis’s desk for final signing. However, Second Amendment advocates like Escalante have pledged to challenge the legislation in court if it becomes law.
Critics argue that the bill unfairly targets law-abiding citizens while doing little to address the root causes of gun violence. Republican Senator Paul Lundeen, the chamber’s minority leader, emphasized the constitutional implications of the bill. “The founders recognized that self-defense is a fundamental, natural right that predates government itself,” Lundeen said. “The burden is on the government to justify restrictions, not on you to prove eligibility.”
As the debate continues, Colorado finds itself at the center of a national conversation about gun rights and public safety. For now, the fate of SB25-003 rests in the hands of the state’s House of Representatives, where the battle over Second Amendment protections is far from over.
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