Colorado Governor Enacts New Gun Regulations, Including Ban on Bump Stocks

On April 10, Colorado Governor Jared Polis enacted a bill that requires individuals to obtain a permit and undergo safety training before acquiring certain firearms.

The new law also prohibits the purchase and sale of devices that facilitate the rapid firing of guns, such as bump stocks.

“It is crucial for individuals without gun safety training to receive that education, and this bill will ensure that they learn how to operate weapons safely and—equally important—how to store them responsibly,” Polis stated during a press conference on Thursday.

According to the law, individuals are not permitted to purchase semiautomatic rifles or semiautomatic shotguns with detachable magazines unless they have completed hunter education training provided by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and a “basic firearms safety course.”

Local sheriffs are required to verify the completion of the course, while applicants must also pass a background check and agree not to violate state firearms laws.

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Violators of this law will face a class 2 misdemeanor for the first infraction, with felony charges for any subsequent violations.

Dealers found in breach of this legislation will have their licenses revoked.

Everytown for Gun Safety, an organization advocating for gun control, was among those applauding the legislation.

Conversely, other groups have argued that the law infringes upon constitutional rights.

Escalante also stated that the group is contemplating its legal options.

“We will not tolerate this. We will not allow Jared Polis … and the legislature to compel us to essentially buy back our right to purchase the most widely used rifle in America,” he declared.

Representative Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) also condemned the Colorado legislation.

Boebert and other Republicans have urged the U.S. Department of Justice to initiate legal action against Colorado concerning this law.