The Weld County Sheriff’s Office published a press release this morning that expressed Weld County’s discontent with Governor Jared Polis’s signing of SB25-003 into law last week. The release, signed by Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams, said that “the bill will have a direct impact on the citizens of Weld County and the duties of the Weld County Sheriff’s Office.”
SB25-003, signed into law after months of deliberation about the bill in the House and Senate, will require Colorado citizens to have a permit and complete a safety course before purchasing certain firearms, while banning rapid-fire conversion devices. 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 shifted from an all-out ban to emphasizing safety training and a permitting process. It still holds firm on banning rapid-fire conversion devices.
On April 7, before the bill became law, Sheriff Reams and Captain Matt Turner attended the Weld County Board of County Commissioners’ (BOCC) regular meeting, during which the commissioners “supported a resolution submitted by Sheriff Reams to express opposition to SB25-003.” The BOCC, which is composed entirely of members affiliated with the Republican Party, unanimously voted to approve Weld County’s opposition to the bill.
Weld County’s elected officials, including commissioners and state lawmakers representing the region, are predominantly affiliated with the Republican Party. Conservative lawmakers and advocacy groups have consistently opposed the bill, citing concerns about Second Amendment rights.
The Weld County Sheriff’s Office said that “Sheriff Reams has stated that SB25-003 will do nothing to reduce crimes involving guns in Colorado and is simply an affront to citizen’s efforts to exercise their Second Amendment Rights.”
The press release said that although Weld County opposes SB 25-003, “any refusal to perform the duties that this legislation delegated to the Office of Sheriff will have a negative impact on the citizens of Weld County and will essentially act as another impediment to the rights guaranteed in the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.” The law adds new administrative responsibilities for sheriff’s offices like background checks and verifying safety training for people looking to purchase firearms that are affected by SB25-003.
The release said that the Weld County Sheriff’s Office will “begin working on a plan to accommodate the new process required by this bill.” The sheriff’s office will include additional staff, equipment, and “any other need” as part of its 2026 budget request to the BOCC in order to obtain the necessary resources for implementing background checks and verifying safety training before the law goes into effect in August 2026.
The bill was sponsored by Senators Tom Sullivan (D-Centennial) and Julie Gonzales (D-Denver), along with Representatives Andy Boesenecker (D-Fort Collins) and Meg Froelich (D-Englewood). They advocated for the legislation as a means to enhance gun safety education and prevent gun violence.
“This bill ensures that our Second Amendment rights are protected and that Coloradans can continue to purchase the gun of their choice for sport, hunting, self-defense, or home defense,” Polis said in a press release. “I am confident that this bill contributes to improving public safety in our state by helping to ensure an educated and trained gun owner community, including gun safety and safe storage.”
