We Used Every Tool to Stop SB25-003. Now, We’ve Called in Reinforcements.

When SB25-003 was introduced, it was clear from the beginning that this legislation was not merely flawed - it was unconstitutional. This bill, now signed into law, criminalizes the future sale, transfer, and even possession of widely owned semiautomatic firearms and firearm components that law-abiding Coloradans use every day to protect themselves and their families. It redefines long-standing tools of self-defense as “dangerous weapons,” pushing the boundaries of both state and federal constitutional protections.

Let me be clear: this was never a legitimate public safety bill. It was a political maneuver to erode your Second Amendment rights and test how far progressive lawmakers could push Colorado away from the Constitution. And House Republicans fought it every step of the way.

What We Did

We debated this bill for over 13 straight hours on the House floor - the longest debate of the session. We offered more than 30 substantive amendments to introduce real public safety measures, limit overreach, and, at the very least, protect law-abiding citizens from being swept up in vague, retroactive language. Every single amendment was rejected on a party-line vote.

When the debate ended and the bill moved to a vote, it passed despite our resistance, but our efforts didn’t stop there.

A Constitutional Strategy

After that vote, I took immediate action. I researched and drafted a formal joint resolution calling for the Colorado Supreme Court to weigh in on the constitutionality of the bill before it could become law - a legal mechanism allowed under our state constitution. I gathered signatures from my colleagues and worked with leadership in the Senate to have the resolution introduced.

The joint resolution was drafted during House floor proceedings and could not be formally delivered until after. It was hand-delivered to Senate leadership immediately afterward on Monday, March 24, days before the Senate considered House amendments and repassed SB25-003 on Friday, March 28. There was ample time to act. The Senate didn’t run out of time. They chose not to act.

The bill passed both chambers and went to the Governor’s desk.

An Appeal to the Federal Government

With all state-level options exhausted, House Republicans made the next logical move: we engaged the federal government.

This week, we formally called on Colorado’s Attorney General to refer SB25-003 to United States Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was appointed to investigate federal constitutional violations by state legislatures. We are asking her to investigate and, if warranted, act. The Second Amendment is not subject to legislative whim, and this bill flies in the face of long-standing Supreme Court precedent, including Heller and Bruen.

If the state will not protect your rights, the federal government must.

Why This Matters

This law isn’t going to stop crime. Criminals don’t follow gun registration laws. But law-abiding citizens will be criminalized under this bill. Firearms that were previously legal will now put Coloradans at risk of felony charges for the simple act of possessing what they have lawfully owned for years.

What’s more, we can’t afford it. The fiscal note attached to SB25-003 grossly underestimates the cost of enforcement. Democrats voted to raid Colorado Parks and Wildlife funds - funds paid for by our hunters, anglers, and outdoorsmen - to try to make this bill look affordable. But it’s not. And it may cause the loss of federal matching dollars, which would gut the CPW budget.

What’s Next

The fight isn’t over. Legal challenges are already being prepared, and I am confident the courts will ultimately strike this law down. Until then, I will keep working at every level to fight for your rights - because if we allow this to stand, nothing in the Bill of Rights is safe.

If you’re frustrated, you’re not alone. But we need your help. This fight now moves to the courts and the ballot box. If you want to stop the erosion of our freedoms, we need to elect more legislators who will stand on principle and uphold the Constitution.

The people of Colorado deserve better than this. I’ll never stop fighting to make sure they get it.
Location: 200 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203, USA

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