Should Cutting Education to Fund Redundant Gun Laws be a Priority?

HB24-1353, titled "Firearms Dealer Requirements & State Permitting," imposes additional regulations on firearm dealers within the state. The Department of Revenue (DOR) has requested 18 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions in this budget cycle to enforce the new law. This expansion comes with a price tag of over $2 million, contributing to the financial strain on an already overextended state budget.

The redundancy of HB24-1353 becomes evident when considering existing federal regulations. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) already mandates stringent requirements for firearm dealers, including comprehensive background checks, meticulous record-keeping, and adherence to federal licensing standards. HB24-1353 essentially duplicates these federal protocols, creating unnecessary bureaucratic layers without delivering any measurable improvement in public safety.

This brings us to my bill, HB25-1055 a straightforward repeal of HB24-1353. Contrary to framing this as a firearms issue, HB25-1055 should be viewed through the lens of good governance and fiscal responsibility. The repeal is a pro-business measure designed to alleviate the undue regulatory burden placed on small businesses, particularly local firearm dealers who are already compliant with federal laws.

In a year where Colorado is grappling with a $1 billion budget shortfall due to last year’s overspending, the $2 million saved by eliminating these redundant positions could be redirected to more critical areas. For instance, preserving funding for education—an area often targeted during budget cuts - is far more beneficial to the broader community than sustaining unnecessary bureaucratic roles.

This is not a partisan issue. It’s a matter of fiscal prudence and logical governance. Why should taxpayers foot the bill for redundant regulations that offer no added value? Why should small businesses be strangled by duplicative laws that hinder their operations and increase their costs? At a time when the state is forced to make tough financial decisions, wouldn’t it make more sense to cut unnecessary expenditures from the Department of Revenue rather than from vital sectors like education?

HB25-1055 represents a common-sense approach to streamline government operations, reduce unnecessary spending, and support local businesses. Voting against this bill would mean endorsing wasteful spending and unnecessary regulatory burdens - a stance that’s difficult to justify in the current economic climate. The question stands: in a time of fiscal tightening, why would anyone oppose a bill that saves money, supports small businesses, and eliminates redundancy?

Now is the time to make your voice heard. If you believe in supporting small businesses, reducing unnecessary government spending, and preserving critical funding for education, reach out to your Representatives and the Business Affairs & Labor Committee, the emails below:
- naquetta.ricks.house@coleg.gov
- steven.woodrow.house@coleg.gov
- ryan.armagost.house@coleg.gov
- regina.english.house@coleg.gov
- rebecca.keltie.house@coleg.gov
- sheila.lieder.house@coleg.gov
- william.lindstedt.house@coleg.gov
- bob.marshal.house@coleg.gov
- tisha.mauro.house@coleg.gov
- chris.richardson.house@coleg.gov
- gretchen.rydin.house@coleg.gov
- larry.suckla.house@coleg.gov

Urge them to support HB25-1055.

Let them know that Colorado taxpayers deserve efficient governance and that redundant regulations have no place in our state budget. Your advocacy can make a difference in ensuring that common sense prevails in our legislature.
Location: 200 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203, USA

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