Montezuma County, Colorado Sheriff Steven D. Nowlin is raising constitutional alarms — and practical objections — after announcing he will not comply with Colorado’s sweeping new gun‑control mandate, Senate Bill 25‑003, which took effect August 1, 2026.
SB 25‑003 dramatically rewrites Colorado law by imposing a new permit‑to‑purchase system for a massive list of semiautomatic rifles, shotguns with detachable magazines, and gas‑operated semiautomatic handguns. To buy any of these firearms, Coloradans must now:
- Pay new state‑mandated fees,
- Pass a background check,
- Obtain an eligibility card from their sheriff,
- Complete a 12‑hour safety course (or a 4‑hour abbreviated course for those with prior hunter‑education),
- Pass a written exam.
Critics say the law is a de facto gun ban, making the process so burdensome that many residents will simply give up.
Sheriff Nowlin says his office will not participate in issuing eligibility cards or managing the required training certificates. He cites constitutional concerns, lack of funding, and insufficient staffing, noting that the state provided no resources to handle the massive administrative workload.
He also blasted the state for tying Hunter Education, historically required only for hunting, to firearm purchases for the first time in Colorado history.
Residents of Montezuma County will now have to travel to other counties and pay out‑of‑county fees to obtain eligibility cards, adding cost and inconvenience to an already onerous process.
Gun owners across Colorado are watching closely, hoping more sheriffs follow Nowlin’s lead and refuse to enforce what many see as an unconstitutional, punitive attack on lawful gun ownership.
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