By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
Colorado legislators are considering several gun control measures, including a bill to ban so-called “assault weapons,” revised training requirements for concealed carry permits, school security requirements, updated firearm seller requirements and felony charges for all firearm thefts.
According to CBS News, Democrats have introduced ten gun control bills, including one requiring gun owner liability insurance. The story said hearings on some measures will be held Thursday.
House Bill 24-1292 “defines the term “assault weapon” and prohibits a person from manufacturing, importing, purchasing, selling, offering to sell, or transferring ownership of an assault weapon. The bill further prohibits a person from possessing a rapid-fire trigger activator. A person in violation of the prohibitions will be assessed a first-time penalty of $250,000 and $500,000 for each subsequent violation.”
House Bill 24-1174, which would take effect July 1, 2025, would require “concealed handgun training classes to be held in person and include instruction regarding:”
- Knowledge and safe handling of firearms and ammunition;
- Safe storage of firearms and child safety;
- Safe firearms shooting fundamentals;
- Federal and state laws pertaining to the lawful purchase, ownership, transportation, use, and possession of firearms;
- State law pertaining to the use of deadly force for self-defense; and
- Techniques for avoiding a criminal attack and how to manage a violent confrontation, including conflict resolution and judgmental use of lethal force.
House Bill 24-1310 would allow school districts, charter schools or “board of cooperative services (local education provider)” to hire or contract with a person as a school security officer only if:
- The local education provider has a policy that governs security officers’ engagement with students;
- The person completes school security officer or school resource officer training; and
- The person undergoes a background check and a psychological evaluation.
According to a synopsis, HB 1310 would allow a school security officer to carry a sidearm on school property, provided this individual holds a valid concealed carry permit, and has completed firearms training, and “passed the peace officer standards and training board’s firearms skills test or an equivalent firearms skills test.”
House Bill 24-1348 is a measure regulating how a firearm may be stored in an unattended vehicle. Gun thefts from cars is actually a major concern of armed citizens because of all the places where guns are not allowed. Under this measure, “knowingly leaving a firearm in an unattended vehicle unless the firearm is stored in a locked hard-sided container that is not left in plain view or that is in the locked trunk” would be prohibited. Violation could bring a fine of up to $500.
House Bill 24-1162 singles out firearms theft from other kinds of theft where the sentencing structure “is based on the value of the item stolen.” Under this measure, theft of a firearm would become a Class 6 felony. “Subsequent violations, including multiple firearms stolen in the same criminal incident, are separate class 5 felonies,” under the bill.
Under the terms of House Bill 24-1353, according to a legislative summary, a firearms dealer would have to obtain a state firearms dealer permit.
“Engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a permit is an unclassified felony, punishable by a fine of up to $250,000,” the bill says. “In order to be eligible for a state permit, the dealer must hold a federal firearms license; not have had a federal, state, or local license to deal firearms or ammunition revoked, suspended, or denied within the prior 3 years; and not have violated any state or federal law concerning the possession, purchase, or sale of firearms in the 3 years before applying for the license.”
There are lots of other requirements in this measure as well including license revocation, annual training for dealers and their employees, reporting suspected straw purchases, and secure storage.
