Several new gun control measures are close to the finish line in the Democrat-controlled Colorado General Assembly.
Last Friday, the Colorado House gave preliminary approval to bills that expand Colorado’s so-called "Red Flag" gun seizure law, bring a crackdown on privately made (or enhanced) firearms, and force the state's firearm dealers to maintain a de facto gun registry.
Among the proposals, SB26-004 would expand the list of people eligible to petition for an Extreme Risk Protection Order. Added to the list of first responders and family members would be those working at health care facilities, behavioral health treatment facilities, K-12 schools, and higher education institutions.
Next is SB26-043, which would require firearm barrel sales or transfers to be done through a federally licensed firearm dealer. Under the bill, FFLs would also be required to keep a record of these transactions for at least five years. The unanswered question is whether barrels would need to be serialized or marked by the dealer before transfer to ensure tracking. This would make simple tasks such as ordering a replacement shotgun barrel or a complete AR upper an FFL-required process in Colorado, with the inevitable extra fees and red tape along for the ride.
HB26-1126 would mandate that all firearm dealers in the state – even individuals – hold a $400 state permit to sell firearms and firearm components. It requires "large-capacity magazines" to be kept behind a counter in a locked case or in a locked room that is not accessible to the public. The bill also expands record-keeping requirements by requiring firearm transactions to be recorded and requiring that these records be maintained electronically and made available to law enforcement. Shops found out of compliance could face a business-crippling fine of up to $100,000.
The bills face a final House vote on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Colorado state Senate last week advanced HB26-1144 to a full floor vote. The bill would prohibit the use of a 3D printer or similar devices to make a firearm or a firearm component. The bill also outlaws the sale or distribution of instructions on how to use a 3D printer to create a firearm or a firearm component. Violators could face up to a Class 5 felony charge, which can result in as much as 3 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
Final votes on these bills could send them to the desk of Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat who is considered a key ally of anti-gun groups such as Everytown. Polis has consistently signed major gun control legislation passed by the state legislature, including the state's "red flag" law and restrictions on "ghost guns." Polis signed SB 25-003 last April, which restricts the purchase, sale, and manufacture of many semi-auto rifles, shotguns, and handguns. Colorado's SB 25-003 gun ban takes effect on Aug. 1.
Banner image: An Anderson AM15 Dissipator, now replaced by the Ruger Harrier series. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
