Photo: Colorado Governor Jared Polis signs Senate Bill 25-3, a gun safety measure, on April 10, 2025, at the Colorado Capitol. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
This story by Sara Wilson appeared on Colorado Newsline on April 10, 2025.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday signed into law Senate Bill 25-3, which sets training requirements to purchase most semiautomatic firearms.
“I really think this bill will make Colorado communities safer and prevent accidents, as well as gun violence. Ultimately, that means saving lives while protecting our Second Amendment rights and upholding Colorado’s proud tradition of sports shooting and hunting,” he said during a bill signing ceremony in his office at the Capitol.
The policy could become one of the most impactful gun laws in the state in recent years, following the recent enactment of a ghost gun ban, gun purchase age restriction, three-day waiting period for purchases, and an expanded “red flag” law.
SB-3 was sponsored by Sen. Tom Sullivan of Centennial, Sen. Julie Gonzales of Denver, Rep. Andrew Boesenecker of Fort Collins and Rep. Meg Englewood of Englewood, all Democrats. It passed the Legislature with only Democrats in favor.
Beginning in August 2026, it will be illegal in Colorado to buy semiautomatic rifles, shotguns and gas-operated semiautomatic handguns that accept detachable magazines without certain safety training. If a person doesn’t get that training, they could buy those types of firearms with a permanently-fixed magazine that adheres to the state’s 15-round limit.
A permit-to-purchase program created by Colorado Parks and Wildlife would authorize a person to buy an otherwise restricted firearm. This is how it will work: A person will need to apply to their sheriff for a course eligibility card that will take into account a background check. Sheriffs would have the power to deny an eligibility card if the person cannot legally own a firearm or if they are determined to be a danger to themselves or others.
After a person gets that card, they can take a course approved by the sheriff’s office — either 12 hours if they don’t have a hunting license through the state or four hours if they already have that license. Once the person completes the course and passes a test, they will be allowed for five years to buy one of the guns considered under the bill.
“If you’re going to be purchasing these weapons, it should be your responsibility to make sure that you’re educated on how to safely use these weapons. I think that’s common sense,” Polis said.
The bill exempts about 40 popular hunting rifles, as well as antique firearms.
It would not ban possession, so people can retain guns they own before August 2026 that would otherwise be banned for purchase.
The bill also bans rapid-fire devices, which increase a gun’s firing rate.
Staunch Republican opposition
The signed bill reflects a compromise between sponsors and Polis. The original version would have banned detachable magazines outright, but the permit-to-purchase plan was amended into it on the Senate floor after negotiations with Polis.
The governor still has some reservations on the policy. He said he wants the Department of Natural Resources and CPW to work to keep the cost of training under $200 and potentially offer financial assistance for lower-income Coloradans. He also said he wants to find a way for some individuals, such as retired law enforcement and former military personnel, to not have to undergo “redundant training.”
Three states require training to purchase firearms, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. California and Massachusetts require it for all guns, and Washington requires it for semiautomatic firearms.
The bill faced staunch opposition from Republicans and gun-rights groups in the state, who argued it creates a burden to a person exercising their Second Amendment rights. They worry about potential backlogs to register for a training course and a financial roadblock of fees to get certified.
Ian Escalante , the executive director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, told reporters after the bill signing that the group is “exploring all options,” including litigation and opposing the bill sponsors during the next election.
The Legislature is also considering bills to raise the minimum age to buy ammunition, make firearm thefts felonies and impose new security requirements for gun shows. The ammunition bill was passed by both chambers and sent to Polis on Tuesday.