COLORADO (DDN) – The Colorado Senate, headed by Democrats, adopted a bill early Friday to prohibit the sale of semi-automatic firearms in the state after sponsors made substantial revisions.
Senate Bill 25-003 originally prohibited the sale or purchase of semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, or gas-operated handguns with detachable magazines, but exempted firearms with “permanently fixed” magazines.
The bill was postponed twice in recent weeks while Democratic sponsors apparently worked on amendments with the governor’s office.
The new plan, announced on Thursday, would still prohibit the purchase or sale of qualified semi-automatic weapons, but it now includes exemptions for persons who take a firearm safety training and are vetted by law enforcement.
Republican and Democratic senators debated the bill for hours before passing it on second reading early Friday morning. Before SB 25-003 may be debated in the House, the Senate must pass it once more.
Sen. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, the bill’s principal sponsor, stated Thursday that SB 25-003 is intended to enforce the state’s 2013 ban on high-capacity magazines, which are defined as carrying more than 15 rounds.
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Sullivan stated that the bill concerns “the next firearm, not the ones you have.”
“After we pass this, starting in September the only assault-style weapons they get are going to have attached magazines to it, and I think that is a step in the right direction and will help us to save lives,” according to him.
Republicans argued that if passed, the law would violate their Second Amendment rights.
“Senate Bill 3 does not address the root causes of gun violence, and instead it strips citizens of their means to protect themselves,” Republican Sen. Scott Bright said.
The new law would compel those who want to buy a semi-automatic firearm to give their fingerprints to their local sheriff’s office for a background check. Once authorized, sheriffs would issue a “firearms safety course eligibility card,” allowing the individual to attend the requisite training course.
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A deputy’s office “may deny or revoke a card if the sheriff has a reasonable belief that documented previous behavior by the applicant or cardholder makes it likely the person will present a danger to themself or others if the person holds a firearm safety course eligibility card,” according to the proposal.
Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, the pro-gun lobbying group opposing the bill, claims the eligibility card is equivalent to a “firearm owners identification card” similar to ones issued in Illinois.
Other Democratic-backed proposals to prohibit so-called assault weapons failed over the last two legislative sessions.
Reference: Colorado Senate adds amendments to semi-automatic firearms bill
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