(The Center Square) – The state House Judiciary Committee is currently hearing testimony on Senate Bill 25-003, a controversial piece of legislation looking to restrict the sale of certain firearms in Colorado.
With the meeting expected to go well into the evening, the committee will hear hours of public comments from dozens of experts, gun legislation advocates and firearm owner spokespersons.
The Colorado State Shooting Association, the official state association of the National Rifle Association, has been advocating against the bill since it was first proposed.
“We will continue to fight this incompetently crafted bill in the capital and are preparing to fight it if it makes it to the governor’s desk,” the CSSA said in a statement Tuesday.
The bill originally banned the sale or purchase of any semi-automatic rifles, shotguns or gas-operated handguns that take detachable magazines, exempting firearms with “permanently fixed” magazines.
After the amendment process in the state Senate, the legislation would still ban the purchase or sale of the applicable semi-automatic weapons. But the bill now creates exemptions for individuals who complete a firearm safety course and are vetted by law enforcement.
Senate Bill 25-003 successfully passed the Senate in February with a vote of 19 to 15. Some Democrats crossed the aisle to vote against the bill.
The bill’s primary sponsor in the House, Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, said during the beginning of the House committee testimony Tuesday that the restrictions proposed in the bill are necessary to address gun violence.
“Change does not come without action by this body, whom I believe has a unique ability and responsibility to address this crisis head on,” Boesenecker said. “Meaningful action needs to recognize that Colorado has more work to do on gun violence prevention.”
Boesenecker received pushback from Republicans on the committee, who called the selection of firearms addressed in the bill “arbitrary.”
“We’re not talking about firearms that are used in even … close to half of violent crime involving guns,” said Rep. Ryan Armagost, R- Berthoud. “Why is it necessary to move it forward in an attempt to reduce gun violence with an arbitrary list?”
With Democrats controlling the committee, the bill is likely to pass. Democrats also control the state House 43 to 22.
