Colorado’s sweeping new gun control law—Senate Bill 25‑003—officially took effect today, landing just after a surge of firearm purchases throughout July as gun owners rushed to beat the deadline.
The law targets firearms that gun control advocates label “assault weapons,” imposing a new stack of requirements that critics say are designed to make lawful purchases far more difficult. Although SB 25‑003 is already being challenged in court, enforcement began today.
- Age Restriction — Buyers must be 21 or older. Anyone 18–20 is now banned from purchasing these firearms.
- Eligibility Card — Applicants must obtain a Firearms Safety Course Eligibility Card from their sheriff, including a state application, non‑refundable fee, and two fingerprint cards for a background check.
- Mandatory Training — Gun owners must complete an in‑person safety course. Hunter’s ed graduates may take a four‑hour class; everyone else must complete a 12‑hour course.
- Exam Requirement — A passing score of 90% or higher is required.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife reports that background check requests spiked sharply in July, with gun owners purchasing firearms ahead of the new restrictions.
Second Amendment advocates argue the law is a backdoor ban, predicting that states may replicate this strategy if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down hardware‑based bans next year.
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