Colorado passes one of the nation’s most restrictive gun laws

Apr 13

Devin Pavlou Digital Producer

By Devin Pavlou (Digital Producer)

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 3 into law, banning the manufacture, sale and purchase of most semiautomatic firearms with detachable magazines, effective August 2026. The bill includes exemptions for military, law enforcement, prison guards and armored-vehicle businesses.
The bill allows individuals to purchase banned firearms if they acquire a “firearms safety course eligibility card,” which requires vetting by the local county sheriff, completing up to 12 hours of training and passing a test.
Gun rights groups plan to file a lawsuit against the bill, claiming it infringes on the Second Amendment, while supporters, including state Rep. Tom Sullivan, whose son was killed in the Aurora theater shooting, praised the bill’s signing.

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Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed one of the nation’s most restrictive gun regulation bills into law on Thursday, April 10. The bill bans the manufacture and sale of most semiautomatic firearms in the state.

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What does the bill do?

Senate Bill 3 bans the manufacture, sale and purchase of certain semiautomatic firearms that can use detachable ammunition magazines. These bans will go into effect in August 2026.

The ban would apply to AR-15 and AK-47 style semiautomatic rifles, tactical shotguns and some handguns. Buyers can only purchase banned weapons if the magazine has a maximum capacity of 15 rounds and is welded, epoxied or soldered on.

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The ban also included “rapid-fire trigger devices.” These include bump stocks and binary triggers, both of which allow the shooter to fire at faster rates but not as fast as a fully automatic weapon.

The bill does include an exemption for Colorado gun companies to manufacture banned weapons for military, law enforcement, prison guards and armored-vehicle businesses.

Senate Bill 3 does not impact the possession of any firearms. So, if someone already has a banned weapon, they wouldn’t be breaking any laws once the new law takes effect.

The new law will also impact out-of-state gun manufacturers since federal law requires gun sellers to follow the laws where the customer lives.

Is there any way to get around the ban?

The bill includes a way that some people could still purchase banned firearms, however, no one will be able to purchase any “rapid-fire trigger devices.” Those interested in buying a banned weapon would need to acquire a “firearms safety course eligibility card.”

To get a card, the local county sheriff must vet the person, including a background check. Sheriffs would have fairly broad authority to deny applications. However, if the sheriff rejects someone, that person can file a lawsuit to try to reverse the decision.

Once someone receives the card, they would have to complete up to 12 hours of training over two days and finally pass a test. After passing the test, they can purchase a banned weapon under the new law.

The card is valid for five years and must be renewed if the person wants to purchase additional weapons.

How have people reacted to the bill?

Gun rights groups have already said they plan to file a lawsuit against the bill, saying it infringes on the Second Amendment. Previously, the Supreme Court overturned President Donald Trump’s ban on bump stocks following the Las Vegas mass shooting. The shooting killed 58 people and is the deadliest mass shooting in American history.

“Polis might think he’s scoring points with the anti-gun crowd, but as far as we’re concerned, he has just handed us a rallying cry. This fight is far from over, and we’re playing for keeps,” Huey Laugesen with the Colorado State Shooting Association told CBS News.

On the other side, supporters of the bill were happy to see it signed by the governor. State Rep. Tom Sullivan, whose son was killed during the Aurora theater shooting in 2012, sponsored the bill.

“My family made the decision that we would not be silent or indivisible. We would speak out and be present for all those who have been impacted by the public health crisis that is gun violence,” Sullivan said.