The Misguided Decision to Kill HB 25-1055: Why Repealing HB 24-1353 Was Essential

In a disappointing turn of events, the Colorado House committee’s decision to kill HB25-1055 means that HB24-1353 - a deeply flawed bill - will continue to impose unnecessary burdens on law-abiding firearms dealers and responsible gun owners in our state.

Let’s be clear: HB25-1055 was the solution, not the problem. Its purpose was to repeal the misguided HB24-1353, which seeks to establish an additional state licensing authority for firearms dealers - a move that defies common sense and accomplishes nothing in the fight against gun crime.

One of the most glaring flaws of HB24-1353 is its cost. Enforcement of this redundant regulation is projected to cost Colorado about $3 million a year at a time when our state is already facing a budget crisis that requires cutting $1 billion due to reckless overspending by Democrats.

These budget cuts won’t just affect abstract numbers; they will directly impact funding for education, healthcare, and other essential services that Colorado families rely on. In what world does it make sense to divert millions to a duplicative licensing program while we’re slashing budgets for schools and hospitals? The fiscal irresponsibility here is staggering.

Beyond the wasteful spending, the premise of HB24-1353 is fundamentally flawed. The federal government, through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), already performs comprehensive licensing and oversight of firearms dealers. Federal law mandates background checks, meticulous record-keeping, and strict compliance audits for all federally licensed firearms dealers (FFLs).

Creating a separate state-level licensing requirement is a classic example of bureaucratic overreach - an expensive and unnecessary duplication of efforts that will do nothing to enhance public safety. Why should Colorado’s taxpayers fund a redundant licensing system that merely echoes what the federal government is already doing effectively?

Moreover, Colorado’s firearms dealers are upstanding businesses that have proven their commitment to compliance and safety time and time again. They are batting a thousand when it comes to following federal regulations - conducting background checks, maintaining detailed records, and ensuring that firearms do not end up in the wrong hands. The notion that these responsible business owners need further state-level oversight is not only insulting but also entirely unfounded.

HB24-1353 also fails spectacularly at addressing the real issue: gun crime. Criminals who obtain firearms illegally will not be affected by additional licensing requirements for lawful dealers. The bill’s restrictions and restraints fall squarely on good, honest people who are following the law - not on those who commit crimes.

By imposing redundant regulations, HB24-1353 achieves nothing except creating additional hoops for law-abiding citizens and businesses to jump through. If the goal is to reduce gun crime, we should be focusing our efforts on enforcing existing laws more effectively and targeting illegal gun trafficking - not tying up small businesses with redundant red tape.

One particularly absurd aspect of HB24-1353 is the involvement of the Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR). Under federal law, Form 4473 - the crucial document that records a firearm transaction - remains solely with the firearms dealer and is accessible only to the ATF during compliance checks.

The Colorado DOR, however, has no authority to access or examine this form. This raises a fundamental question: what exactly would the DOR be doing in this licensing role other than hand-holding while the ATF conducts its actual enforcement work? This setup does nothing to enhance enforcement or public safety; it simply adds another layer of taxpayer-funded bureaucracy with no clear or effective purpose.

The decision to kill HB25-1055 - thereby allowing HB24-1353 to proceed - is a failure of both logic and leadership. It sends the message that our priorities lie not in addressing real threats or reducing crime but in expanding state bureaucracy, imposing redundant regulations on small businesses that have done nothing wrong, and decreasing personal liberty and freedom.

In doing so, the committee has chosen to ignore the facts: that Colorado’s firearms dealers are already fully compliant with rigorous federal standards and that creating a state licensing authority will not prevent a single crime.

If we are serious about reducing gun crime in Colorado, we must focus on real solutions: enforcing existing laws, strengthening penalties for those who illegally traffic firearms, and investing in mental health resources. Burdening law-abiding dealers with additional paperwork and redundant regulations is not the answer - it is a distraction.

The fight to repeal HB24-1353 is not over. I will continue to advocate for common-sense policies that protect the rights of law-abiding citizens while focusing on the real issues that affect public safety. The decision to kill HB25-1055 was a mistake - one that I intend to see corrected.

In the meantime, I urge my colleagues and constituents to see HB24-1353 for what it is: a misguided and ineffective approach that does nothing to address gun crime in our state and wastes millions that could be better spent on education, healthcare, and truly impactful public safety initiatives.