Colorado SB25-003 was introduced in the State Senate by sponsors Tom Sullivan and Julie Gonzalez, along with Andrew Boesnecker and Meg Froelich in the House. Despite the failure of similar, albeit less extreme, legislation in 2023 and 2024, this bill is poised to pass unless there is significant public opposition. As introduced, the bill has 18 co-sponsors in the Senate, exactly the number of votes needed to pass in that chamber, and 25 co-sponsors in the House, where it requires a similar majority. Governor Jared Polis, who publicly opposed the bills in 2023 and 2024, has not made his position clear this year, raising questions about if he’s really willing to be known as the governor who actually did come after the hunting rifles. 

1. What the Bill Bans: SB25-003 is an extreme ban that targets any semi-automatic rifle or shotgun that can accept a detachable magazine, as well as semi-automatic pistols that operate with a gas-reloading system and can accept a detachable magazine. Due to the bill’s contradictory language, specifically around pistols, it could ban far more than gas operated platforms. If passed, the law would give the Colorado Attorney General authority to further define and interpret the language. Also included in the bill is a vague definition of “rapid-fire devices,” which it classifies as “dangerous weapons”, banning bump stocks and anything that can increase the rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm. Make no mistake, this is a sweeping ban that eliminates access to most modern semi-automatic weapons for everyday civilians by banning the sale, purchase, transfer, and manufacture (law enforcement is exempt).

2. Worse Than Other States: This legislation takes a very severe approach compared to other assault weapons bans across the country. While states like California, New Jersey, Maryland and others have focused on the combination of the firearms ability to accept a detachable magazine and specific cosmetic features, like a pistol grip or barrel shroud, SB25-003 skips these specifics. It broadly bans any firearm fitting a general description: semi-automatic operation with detachable magazines. This not only broadens the scope dramatically but the bill also includes other types of firearms, like shotguns and pistols. This makes the Colorado bill far more sweeping than anything we’ve seen in the nation.

3. The “Magazine Ban” Spin Being Pushed by Bill Sponsors: Bill sponsors and bill drafters are claiming this is “Legislation to Close the State’s High-Capacity Magazine Ban Loophole” yet the bill text reveals the true goal is to eliminate semi-automatic firearms through a sweeping ban. The bill has nothing to do with magazines. The bill sponsors – or the bill drafters – or probably both, are lying to the citizens of Colorado with this misleading “magazine” language.

4. Colorado is the Test State for Experimental Legislation: This is brand new, never seen before bill language and there will be unintended consequences. The experimental aspect of the law underscores the very likely possibility of discovering significant issues only after it has been implemented, affecting safety, practical firearm use, and legal consequences with fiscal impacts on the state budget.

5. Serious Safety Concerns – An Accident Waiting to Happen: According to bill sponsors, the desired outcome of the ban is for people to use firearms with fixed magazines that load from the top. Removable magazines in modern firearms are a critical part of safe operating protocols – making it fast, simple and certain that you have removed ammunition from a gun. Fixed magazines make the firearm risky to unload, potentially leading to dangerous practices. For example, individuals might leave guns loaded for lack of an easier way to clear them, increasing the risk of accidents, especially in homes with children. Alternatively, users will be forced to choose between shooting the firearm to clear it, or attempting risky disassembly of a loaded gun based on unreliable videos found online. Any of these options will lead to increased negligent discharges. This is a critical oversight in this legislation and everyone should be worried.