Colorado Semi-Auto Gun Ban Advances: What Gun Owners Need to Know

Colorado’s proposal to ban the manufacture and possession of certain semi-auto shotguns, rifles, and handguns cleared the Senate and is now heading to the state House.

Colorado SB 25-003 was passed on a 19-15 vote this week. Interestingly, three Democrats — Sens. Nick Hinrichsen, Tony Exum, and Marc Snyder — crossed the aisle to join all Republican lawmakers in the chamber to vote against the bill. However, it was not enough to defeat the bill.

Introduced in early January by Colorado Senators Julie Gonzales (D-Denver) and Tom Sullivan (D-Centennial), the bill was described as “the most radical ‘assault weapons’ ban in Colorado’s history.

This legislation targets semi-auto firearms --- heavily restricting the manufacture, distribution, sale, and purchase of semi-auto guns with detachable magazines.

Most AR-15s, AK-style rifles, and many popular handguns would be restricted unless modified.

The state Senate amended the bill after it passed committee, tacking on a few extras, including more stringent requirements for those already in possession of a restricted semi-auto.

Under the newly tweaked bill, a gun purchaser would have to undergo a vetting process with a local sheriff — similar to what’s required for a concealed carry permit.

If the purchaser has a hunter safety certification, they would then need an additional four-hour course with a certified firearms instructor verified by the sheriff. This course would cover the fundamentals of gun safety, proper storage, and safe handling.

If a purchaser does not already have a hunter safety certification, they would need to complete 12 hours of training spread over two full days. This training includes fundamentals and a live-fire component.

All training (four-hour course and 12-hour course) must be done in person – no online classes are accepted.

Purchasers would need a 90% at the end of the training to be eligible for the exemption and receive a firearms safety eligibility card that proves training was completed. This card is required to buy or transfer a semi-auto.

The Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife would keep and maintain all records related to eligible individuals.

Possessing a semi-auto without the aforementioned training would mean criminal penalties like fines and jail time.

Law enforcement and military personnel would be exempt from the training requirement.

Another carve-out for the bill grandfathered a handful of firearms deemed “historic military weapons” or “commonly used for hunting,” meaning that they would be legal to own without any additional training requirements.

This list includes:

• AG42 Ljungman
• Benelli ARGO E Pro/R1 Big-Game Rifle
• Browning BAR LongTrac/BAR MK 3/BAR ShortTrac Rifle
• Fabrique Nationale Model 49 (FN49)
• Fusil Automatique Modele 1917 (RSC M1917)
• Gewehr 43 (G43)
• Globco Mohawk
• Hakim Rifle
• HK SL6/SL7
• M1 Carbine
• M1941 Johnson Rifle
• Marlin Camp Carbine
• MAS49
• Remington Model 4/8/740/742/750/7400
• Ruger Deerfield Carbine, Mini-14 Ranch, Mini Thirty, Model 44
• Springfield Armory M1A Standard Issue Rifle
• SVT-40
• Valmet Hunter M88
• VZ.52
• Winchester Model 100/1905/1907/1910

Alongside those models, fixed magazine guns, rimfire rifles, bolt-action and lever-action rifles, and pump-action shotguns would still be permitted, as would antiques.

The Senate bill heads to the House next, where it’s expected to pass and then go to Governor Jared Polis for signature.

If passed, the bill would go into effect on September 1, 2025.