By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
Democrat lawmakers in Colorado have pushed through a measure which would ban most rifles with detachable magazines, and with one more vote remaining this week Senate Bill 25-003 could become law.
According to KUNC News, passage followed 12 hours of debate. Democrat Gov. Jared Polis “has indicated he’s prepared to sign it if it passes.”
A bill summary says SB 25-003 “defines a “specified semiautomatic firearm” as a semiautomatic rifle or semiautomatic shotgun with a detachable magazine or a gas-operated semiautomatic handgun with a detachable magazine. The bill excludes from the definition certain types of firearms and specified models of firearms.”
The bill as currently written exempts “a firearm designed to accept, and capable of operating only with .22 or lower caliber rimfire ammunition, unless the firearm has a separate upper and lower receiver.”
There are specific firearms which also appear to be exempted from the bill, including some popular Browning, Remington and Ruger rifles.
Also, according to the summary, “the prohibition does not apply to the transfer or sale of a specified semiautomatic firearm to, and receipt or purchase of a specified semiautomatic firearm by, a person who:
- Completed a hunter education course certified by the division of parks and wildlife and, within 5 years before making the purchase, completed a basic firearms safety course;
- Within 5 years before making the purchase, completed an extended firearms safety course; or
- Completed an extended firearms safety course more than 5 years before making the purchase and completed a basic firearms safety course within 5 years before making the purchase.”
KUNC quoted State Rep. Ron Weinberg (R-Loveland) who argued, “It is a poll tax on the Second Amendment. It is a paywall around a fundamental liberty.”
The summary also contains language which might be interpreted to indicate the state is setting up a gun owner registry.
“The bill requires the division of parks and wildlife (division) to develop and maintain a firearms training and safety course record system (system) that includes records of persons who hold a valid firearms course card and who have completed a hunter education course, a basic firearms safety course, or an extended firearms safety course,” the summary says.
“In order to enroll in a basic or extended firearms safety course, a person must hold a valid firearms safety course eligibility card (firearms course card) issued by a sheriff,” according to the summary.
