Denver, Colorado – The Democratic-controlled House in Colorado made a significant move on Sunday by passing a bill that aims to ban the sale and transfer of semiautomatic firearms. This legislation, which was previously shut down by Democrats last year, passed with a vote of 35-27 and is now headed to the state Senate, also under Democratic leadership.
If the bill successfully passes through the state Senate, Colorado would join 10 other states, including California, New York, and Illinois, in implementing restrictions on semiautomatic guns. Despite the state’s history of tragic mass shootings, the bill is facing challenges in garnering full support.
Colorado’s political landscape, once characterized as purple, has shifted more blue in recent years. The bill’s fate in the state Senate is uncertain, as Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, has expressed reservations about a ban on semiautomatic firearms.
Last year, a similar bill failed to advance, with concerns raised by some Democratic lawmakers about the impact of such a sweeping ban on gun owners’ rights. However, the state did enact four less-restrictive gun control laws, including raising the minimum age for purchasing a gun and strengthening red flag laws.
Colorado has been marred by several tragic mass shootings, including the infamous Columbine High School massacre in 1999 and recent incidents in Aurora and Boulder. Democratic Representative Javier Mabrey emphasized the need for stricter gun laws, highlighting the devastating impact of mass shootings in the state.
Republicans have criticized the bill, arguing that it infringes on Second Amendment rights and that the focus should be on addressing issues of mental illness and violence rather than targeting firearms. Democrats, on the other hand, assert that semiautomatic weapons pose a unique threat due to the speed and scale of potential harm.
“In Aurora, the shooter was able to inflict immense damage in a matter of seconds, which would not have been possible with other weapons like knives,” stated Mabrey in defense of the bill. The debate over gun control continues to be a contentious issue in Colorado, with both sides presenting compelling arguments for their positions.