The Financially Irresponsible, Constitutionally Flawed Assault on Rights Continues

Last Friday, March 21, the Colorado House of Representatives spent over 13 grueling hours debating SB25-003 - legislation aimed at banning a broad swath of semi-automatic firearms and firearm accessories under the guise of public safety. As Republicans, we fought tooth and nail, offering more than 30 sensible, reasonable amendments to improve or at least mitigate the damaging effects of this bill. Yet every proposal fell on deaf ears. Instead of engaging in good-faith debate, the majority party plowed ahead, rejecting every attempt to inject logic, fiscal sanity, or constitutional restraint into their legislation.

Let’s be clear: SB25-003 will do nothing to reduce gun crime.

Criminals, by definition, do not abide by laws. The firearms targeted in this bill are widely owned by law-abiding citizens for sport, hunting, and self-defense. Stripping these citizens of their rights does not disarm violent offenders - it simply punishes responsible Coloradans exercising their constitutionally protected freedoms under the Second Amendment.

Worse still, the fiscal irresponsibility of this bill is staggering. Despite its grossly underestimated fiscal note of $2 million, Colorado is currently facing a $1.2 billion budget shortfall. At a time when every dollar counts, the majority party has chosen to ram through an unfunded, constitutionally questionable mandate without regard for financial reality.

In a desperate attempt to offset the cost, Democrats added an amendment pulling funding from Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) - one of the few self-sustaining departments in our state, funded not by taxpayers, but by hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts. CPW is vital not just for our natural resources, but also for our state’s economy and culture.

Yet in their zeal to impose sweeping gun restrictions, Democrats are now gambling with the very existence of this department. If federal dollars are pulled in response to these budgetary gimmicks - as is a real possibility - CPW could face bankruptcy, devastating conservation efforts, and public lands access across Colorado.

Late in the night, I offered an amendment that would have left the core language of SB25-003 untouched but inserted a simple safeguard: the bill’s enforcement would be contingent upon securing stable funding, preventing the cannibalization of CPW or other critical services. Even this practical “out” was rejected outright.

What does this tell us? It reveals something deeper and far more troubling. The majority party’s disdain for firearms and the rights of lawful gun owners now exceeds their commitment to fiscal responsibility, public safety, or even the conservation efforts they often claim to champion.

Their priorities are laid bare: it is more important to erode the Second Amendment than to protect Colorado’s natural resources, its small businesses, or its financial stability.

This is not governance rooted in reason or accountability - it is governance driven by ideology at any cost.

I remain steadfast in my opposition to SB25-003. I will continue fighting for constitutional rights, responsible budgeting, and honest leadership. Coloradans deserve better. We deserve policies based on facts, not fear, and lawmakers who prioritize the well-being of all citizens - not just those who fit their political narrative.