Gun Rights Gutted: CO Governor Signs Sweeping Gun Ban & Buyer Licensing Scheme SB25-003

In what’s being called one of the most restrictive gun laws in the nation by even the likes of NPR, Colorado Governor Jared Polis has officially signed SB25-003 into law – an assault weapons ban by any other name.

Bill sponsors Senators Tom Sullivan and Julie Gonzales, along with Representatives Meg Froelich and Andrew Boesnecker, joined the Governor in the behind-closed-doors bill signing ceremony that was only open to select media.

In a state that’s been slowly chipping away at gun rights for years, you may be thinking “How much worse can it get?” – well, buckle up, because Colorado just told California “hold my beer”.

What SB25-003 Actually Does

Starting August 1, 2026, the manufacture, sale, and purchase of a huge number of semiautomatic firearms will be illegal in Colorado.

The ban applies to:

• Any semi-automatic rifle or shotgun that accepts a detachable magazine.

• Any gas-operated semi-automatic pistol that accepts a detachable magazine.

There’s a poorly worded exemption for pistols that also use a recoil operation, but how that’s defined is conveniently left to the Colorado Attorney General to figure out later, because nothing says clarity like giving government bureaucrats more power to define your rights.

With the target being firearms that accept detachable magazines, the only legal remaining option would be a firearm with a 15-round or less magazine that is permanently welded, epoxied, or soldered — a type of gun that, for all practical purposes, doesn’t exist on the civilian market and would make for an insanely dangerous self-modification.

Oh, and they went after accessories too. Effective immediately, so-called “rapid-fire trigger devices” (think bump stocks and similar gear) are banned. No grandfathering, no grace period — it’s a felony now.

Special Carveouts for the “Important People”

In classic government fashion, there’s a nice little carveout for:

• Military contractors

• Law enforcement agencies

• Prison guards

• Armored vehicle companies

• Hollywood Movie Producers (yes, really)

They can still have, sell, and manufacture the very same firearms that regular citizens are now banned from owning.

Because apparently your life is less worth defending than an armored truck full of cash or a movie glamourizing the same guns too dangerous for citizens to own.

Gunsmiths can continue to work on these now-taboo firearms, but otherwise, the entire industry has been told to pack up or shut down.

How to Maybe Buy a Banned Gun

The law doesn’t ban ownership (yet). If you already own something that would be banned under SB25-003, you can keep it. Congratulations on your new, government-approved collectible.

But if you want to buy a banned firearm after August 1, 2026, you’ll need to jump through enough hoops to qualify for the circus. I thoroughly breakdown this process here, but I’ll give you a the tl;dr version too.

First, you’ll need a “firearms safety course eligibility card.”

Here’s what that involves:

• Get vetted by your county sheriff, who will examine a complete background check that you must provide them.

• Thanks to the broad discretion this law hands law enforcement, your sheriff can deny your application if they feel you might be a risk to yourself or others.

• If you’re denied, you can sue. Which sounds fun, right? Fighting for your rights in court while your would-be firearm gathers dust.

• If you pass the vetting, you must complete up to 12 hours of government-approved training spread across two days — unless you already have hunter safety certification within the past 5 years, then you only need a basic firearm safety course too.

• Pass a yet-to-be written test with a score of 90% or higher, disability modifications be damned.

• Then, and only then, can you purchase a weapon otherwise banned for mere mortals.

• Colorado Parks and Wildlife would be the gatekeepers of these eligibility cards and the new “not-a-registry” system
• Your eligibility card is good for five years, after which you get the privilege of doing it all over again if you want to buy another firearm.

This isn’t just an “extra safety step” — it’s a bureaucratic bottleneck designed to make it as expensive, time-consuming, and difficult as possible to exercise your rights.

Penalties for Noncompliance

• Manufacturing, selling, or purchasing a banned firearm without a card? Class 2 misdemeanor — up to 120 days in jail and a fine.

• Subsequent violations? Class 6 felony — up to 18 months in prison.

• Possession of a rapid-fire trigger device? Class 5 felony — up to three years in prison.

• Subsequent trigger device violations? Class 4 felony — up to six years.

Lawsuits Are Coming

Gun rights organizations aren’t sitting this one out. Lawsuits are already being prepped to challenge the constitutionality of SB25-003, likely arguing that it violates the Second Amendment and the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision, which specifically rejected arbitrary licensing schemes that infringe on fundamental rights. There are whole host of legal issues with a bill such as this one.

If the courts move quickly (they usually don’t), enforcement could be delayed or blocked. But realistically, it could take years to wind through the legal system — meaning Colorado gun owners will be living under this mess in the meantime.

Bottom Line

SB25-003 is a direct, targeted assault on lawful gun owners, private manufacturers, and the very idea of individual rights. It treats the Second Amendment like a privilege, not a right — something you can only access if you’re willing to beg, pay, and train for permission every five years.

Meanwhile, the criminals who actually misuse guns? They’re not exactly known for getting background checks and eligibility cards.

This law isn’t about safety. It’s about control — plain and simple.

And if you think it stops here, you haven’t been paying attention.