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Rocky Times for Gun Owners in the Rocky Mountain State

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Rocky Times for Gun Owners in the Rocky Mountain State

As the Colorado legislative session closes, its 2025 edition will long be remembered and lamented as a historic assault on the Second Amendment. The worst-case scenario of erasing the fundamental and constitutional protections of the Second Amendment with the stroke of a pen came true for Coloradans. It’s an example all Americans, especially those who believe they live in a “safe” state for gun rights, should heed.

With Governor Jared Polis’s signature on three consequential firearm bills, the stark reality is that these laws take effect next year, and while the legal fight will continue, it is critical for citizens to fully understand the application and effect of this egregious legislation.

SB 25-003 mandates that beginning August 1, 2026, Coloradans’ constitutional right to acquire a semiautomatic is now accessible only after surmonting gratuitous government prior restraints and fee schedules. There is now a permit-to-purchase scheme in place for semi-automatic firearms—this includes rifles, shotguns, and handguns equipped with a detachable magazine. Ultimately, the law now places an incredible amount of restrictions on law-abiding citizens including prohibiting the sale, purchase, distribution, or transfer of these firearms without first completing a 12-hour training course (unless a person has already completed a hunter’s safety course, in which case it would 4 hours); requiring passage of a written exam by a minimum of 90%; inclusion in a database, i.e. gun registry, of exam takers; payment of requisite fees; and obtaining permission via an eligibility permit from a local sheriff based on “may-issue” criteria. County sheriffs can deny an applicant for merely a “reasonable belief” and can revoke a permit under the same standard with renewal required every five years, further adding to the overwhelming constitutional concerns facing Coloradans. See NRA-ILA’s most recent statement HERE.

Starting July 1, 2026, HB 25-1133 goes into effect, providing for additional measures regarding ammunition restrictions. Sales of ammunition will be banned for those under 21 years old except for military service members, police officers, and those who completed a hunter’s safety course, as well as requiring ammunition to be stored behind counters or locked shelves, entirely restricting customer access. Gun shops, dealers, and shooting ranges are rightfully concerned about the negative effects on their businesses in an already very heavily regulated environment.

House Bill 25-1238 places additional regulatory burdens on gun show vendors and organizers, now requiring promoters to prepare a “detailed security plan” that must be submitted to local law enforcement for approval before an event can take place. These new onerous requirements can certainly deter vendors from participating in these community events which have long served as a lawful, accessible, and already regulated avenues for legal firearm transactions.

These far-reaching and unconstitutional attempts additionally face implementation challenges that will undoubtedly also burden the taxpayers of Colorado, a state with a significant $1.2 billion budget shortfall. These unfunded mandates will have an incredible fiscal impact on citizens while paying zero dividends in citizen safety.

This historic assault on Second Amendment rights will also embolden and energize anti-gun extremists in other states. That momentum should inspire the Second Amendment community to use this cautionary tale of Colorado to become engaged in protecting gun rights nationwide, just as NRA-ILA will continue to do at every opportunity and in every forum.

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U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

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Second Amendment  

Thursday, May 22, 2025

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.1 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included Section 2 of the Hearing Protection Act, completely removing suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA).

U.S. Representative Suggests TRIPLING ($600) Suppressor Tax!

News  

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

U.S. Representative Suggests TRIPLING ($600) Suppressor Tax!

Excellent news for gun owners came last week when the U.S. House of Representatives passed President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill, which includes the complete removal of suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA). 

Florida: Governor DeSantis Signs Legislation to Remove 2A Restrictions During Emergencies

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Florida: Governor DeSantis Signs Legislation to Remove 2A Restrictions During Emergencies

Yesterday, May 28, Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 6025 into law protecting our Second Amendment Rights during a state of emergency. The new law became effective upon the governor's signature.  

Illinois: Legislature Advances Sweeping Gun Control

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Illinois: Legislature Advances Sweeping Gun Control

Yesterday, the Illinois House passed House Bill 850, legislation that drastically alters the definition of “clear and present danger” under the FOID and Concealed Carry License (CCL) framework. This bill now moves to the Senate ...

Illinois: Gun Control Bill Advances to House Floor

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Illinois: Gun Control Bill Advances to House Floor

On Wednesday, the House Gun Violence Prevention Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 8, a sweeping gun control measure that expands mandatory firearm storage requirements and drastically increases penalties for law-abiding gun owners. SB 8 ...

House Judiciary Committee Prepares to Advance Key Second Amendment Legislation

News  

Friday, March 21, 2025

House Judiciary Committee Prepares to Advance Key Second Amendment Legislation

The House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH-04), is planning to hold a legislative markup on March 25, 2025 at 10 am EST.  The Committee will be considering several bills during this markup, two ...

Texas: Pro-Gun Legislation Heading to the Governor's Desk!

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Texas: Pro-Gun Legislation Heading to the Governor's Desk!

This week, the Texas House and Senate passed several important pro-Second Amendment bills. These bills had previously passed their respective bodies and now head to Governor Abbott’s desk for his consideration.  

Trump Administration Revives Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Provision

News  

Friday, March 21, 2025

Trump Administration Revives Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Provision

On March 20, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) published an interim final rule entitled, Withdrawing the Attorney General’s Delegation of Authority. That bland title belies the historic nature of the measure, which is aimed at reviving ...

Not Your Father’s ATF: Agency Pledges Reform, Distances Itself from Biden-Harris Era

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Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Not Your Father’s ATF: Agency Pledges Reform, Distances Itself from Biden-Harris Era

A headline on the website of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives appeared late in the day on May 21: “ATF Launches New Era of Reform.” According to the accompanying announcement:

ATF Invites FFLs Zeroed Out Under Biden-Harris to Reapply

News  

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

ATF Invites FFLs Zeroed Out Under Biden-Harris to Reapply

Among all the infringements of the Second Amendment perpetrated by the Biden-Harris regime, one of the most punitive and consequential was ATF’s “zero tolerance” enforcement policy for Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs). 

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NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.