In Colorado, a bill to ban the sale and transfer of semi-automatic firearms was rejected by the state’s Democratic-controlled Legislature. This decision comes as lawmakers are pushing forward with a series of other gun control bills on the 25th anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre. Despite the state’s deep history with firearms and previous mass shootings, the ban faced opposition in the Senate from some Democrats who questioned its effectiveness and scope. The bill, which had already passed in the House, would have prohibited the sale, transfer, and manufacture of semi-automatic firearms.
Colorado’s shift towards a more liberal stance on gun control is evident in the passage of several measures last year, including raising the buying age for a gun from 18 to 21. Currently, there are around six proposals in the legislative pipeline, including one to tax sales of guns and ammunition and another to give the Colorado Bureau of Investigation more power to investigate illegal gun sales. However, the state’s political landscape, with its mix of blue and purple roots, has complicated attempts at passing a broader ban on semi-automatic firearms.
A decade ago, Colorado witnessed its first recall elections as two lawmakers were ousted over their support for bills restricting ammunition magazines and expanding background checks. The state’s history of political backlash against gun control measures has affected the current debate. Democratic State Senator Julie Gonzales, a sponsor of the semi-automatic ban bill, acknowledged the lingering impact of past recalls but also sees the bill’s success in the House as a sign of changing attitudes within the Legislature.
Despite efforts to advance the semi-automatic ban bill, it faced opposition at a committee hearing where Democratic Senator Tom Sullivan, whose son was killed in the Aurora theater shooting, was a vocal critic. Sullivan argued that the weapons targeted by the bill are only involved in a small fraction of gun deaths and injuries, and that the focus should be on more effective and less controversial gun control measures. Democratic Representative Tim Hernández, another sponsor of the bill, agreed with Sullivan that an assault weapons ban is not a cure-all for gun violence and emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach.
While the semi-automatic ban bill may be revived next year, other gun control bills are close to reaching the governor’s desk in Colorado. These include proposals to require stricter safety training for concealed carry permit holders and to mandate firearm dealers to obtain a state permit in addition to a federal one. These measures are intended to strengthen state regulations on gun sales and ownership, even as the debate over a broader ban on semi-automatic firearms continues in the state Legislature.
