Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed SB25-003 into law yesterday after months of deliberation about the bill in the House and Senate. The law, which will go into effect on August 1, 2026, “implements and enforces Colorado’s existing law by requiring a permit and firearm safety training to purchase high-powered firearms that accept detachable magazines. The bill also prohibits the purchase and sale of all rapid fire conversion devices, like bump stocks and binary triggers.”
The bill was first introduced on January 8 and initially sought to prohibit the manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale, or purchase of semiautomatic rifles or shotguns with detachable magazines and gas-operated semiautomatic handguns. Over the last three months, the bill has shifted from an all-out ban to emphasizing safety training and a permitting process. It still holds firm on banning rapid-fire conversion devices.
“The Governor had major concerns with early versions of the bill and was clear he would oppose banning any guns, and his team worked with the sponsors to amend the bill to address these concerns,” said Shelby Wieman, speech writer and press secretary for the State of Colorado. “The final bill allows responsible Coloradans to continue to purchase the gun of their choice for hunting or sports shooting as long as they receive adequate gun safety education.”
Polis posted two graphics on Threads yesterday that addressed misconceptions about the bill. The graphics explained that SB25-003 will not take away guns that people already own and that the training and educational requirements mandated by the law will only apply to the purchase of certain firearms. The graphics also clarified that Colorado has joined 14 other states in requiring a card, permit, or completion of a firearms safety course in order to purchase certain firearms.
The bill has received major criticism from gun rights activists and the NRA. Yesterday, the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action published a statement on its website regarding the new law. “NRA is grateful to all legislators who voted against this egregious measure, and to all NRA members and fellow Second Amendment advocates who sent hundreds of thousands of messages as this bill moved through the legislative process,” it said. “NRA will explore all legal options to fight this law.”
Meanwhile, organizations like Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in America, have voiced their gratitude for the new law. “Colorado’s new law is the definition of common sense: If you want to buy a military-style rifle that can kill dozens without needing to reload, you need to get a permit that requires passing a background check and taking a safety course,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “This innovative approach to keeping weapons of war out of dangerous hands establishes a model for other states, and we applaud Governor Polis and the legislature for coming together to address the threat of mass shootings, which Coloradans know all too well.”
