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Colorado’s legislative session just wrapped and the result is predictable: a fresh wave of gun-control laws that chip away at our rights while being sold as “safety” fixes. Governor Jared Polis has signed at least two of the measures into law, and a couple more dangerous bills sit on his desk waiting for the quiet treatment. If you care about the Second Amendment, you should be paying attention — loudly.
What the Legislature Passed and What Polis Signed
The most visible moves were the signing of SB26‑004 and HB26‑1144. SB26‑004 expands who can file an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO). In plain English, more institutions — hospitals, behavioral health centers, schools and colleges — can now petition to take someone’s guns. Supporters call it “helpful” for stopping violence. Critics warn it hands broad power to bureaucracies that can be trigger-happy.
HB26‑1144 outlaws making certain firearms and parts with 3D printers. That sounds reasonable on its face — who wants a ghost-gun factory in their basement? But the bill’s backers had to strip some language about digital-file distribution to avoid a veto, which shows the law still walks a tricky line between stopping crime and trampling speech and commerce.
Pending Bills That Threaten Lawful Gun Owners
FFL rules and CBI InstaCheck changes
Two other bills already passed the Colorado Legislature and are awaiting the governor’s action: HB26‑1126 and HB26‑1302. HB26‑1126 piles new permits, recordkeeping, training and penalties onto federally licensed firearms dealers (FFLs). In practice, it raises the cost and red tape for honest businesses and could push small dealers out of the market.
HB26‑1302 strips the 12‑hour daily mandate for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s InstaCheck unit and lets the agency set its own hours while reporting annually on processing times. That sounds like efficiency — until you remember how often bureaucracies create “delay by design.” Between new waiting periods and InstaCheck slowdowns, transfers could grind to a halt. Governor Polis can sign these, veto them, or let them become law without fanfare. Don’t bet on fireworks.
The One Bright Spot — For Now
Republicans did manage one small win: a Democratic bill that would have criminalized barrel sales unless handled in person by an FFL failed to clear the finish line. House Republicans and gun-rights groups ran out the clock and kept that bill from becoming law. It’s a modest victory but a reminder that common-sense tactics can blunt overreach, at least temporarily. Expect the same proposal or a near clone to come back next session — Democrats have the votes.
What This Means and What Conservatives Should Do
Bottom line: Colorado just tightened gun rules with SB26‑004 and HB26‑1144 on the books and HB26‑1126 and HB26‑1302 lurking. These changes will mean more paperwork, more administrative power and more ways for government to second-guess lawful owners. There will also be legal fights; some of these measures invite court challenges on constitutional grounds. If you value the Second Amendment, vote, organize, and make noise. Otherwise, expect more “helpful” laws designed to solve problems the government created in the first place.
