Gun Safety
ACTIONS:
Arapahoe County Coroner Kelly Lear, MD (term ending Jan. 2027 coroner@arapahoeco.gov)
My staff and I are on several prevention-oriented committees (predominantly around suicide prevention and overdose awareness) and we submit detailed specific case-related data to public health programs, including the National Violent Death Reporting System.
2019: Total guns deaths: 74 (suicide 54, homicide 19)
2020: Total guns deaths: 88 (suicide 59, homicide 28)
2021: Total guns deaths: 103 (suicide 73, homicide 30)
2022: Total guns deaths: 113 (suicide 65, homicide 48)
2023: Total guns deaths: 95 (suicide 69, homicide 25)
Littleton Public Schools (littletonpublicschools.net)
As a district, we take the security of our students very seriously. The Board has made significant investments in both technology and our buildings to help keep our students safe. This includes secure foyers in all of our schools and hundreds of cameras monitoring our schools and entrances to our schools all day, every day. You can learn more about our security work here: https://littletonpublicschools.net/security-and-emergency-planning
U.S. Representative, District 6, Jason Crow (term ending Jan. 2027, jasoncrowforcongress.com)
Rep. Jason Crow introduced H.B.5678 Firearm Retailer Code of Conduct Act 10/22/21
- Takes commonsense action to require gun dealers and their employees to undergo training every two years to identify fraudulent or potentially unlawful firearms purchases;
- Instructs gun dealers and their employees to refuse the sale of firearms to straw purchasers, gun traffickers, intoxicated persons, or those at risk of harming themselves or others;
- Mandates retailers' posting of notices indicating the signs of fraudulent or potentially unlawful firearms purchases and displaying contact information to report suspected illegal transactions at all points of sale; and
- Requires that federally licensed firearms dealers maintain business and liability insurance throughout the life of the business.
No action took place on the bill.
Rep. Crow, a Vice Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, sponsored H.D.7819 Accountability for Online Firearms Marketplaces Act on 5/18/22 a commonsense measure that cracks down on unlicensed gun sales on online marketplaces, ensuring these marketplaces no longer enjoy blanket immunity and can be brought to justice for violations of the law. The bill died in committee, but had been introduced in the Senate as S.2725 and also died.
He was able to vote for the first bipartisan bill in 30 years on gun control to become law. S.2938 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act passed the Senate 6/23/22; passed House 6/24/22; signed into law by President Biden 6/25/22.
It includes
- support for state crisis intervention orders
- protections for victims of domestic violence
- clarified definition of ‘federally licensed firearms dealer’
- under 21 enhanced reviewed process
- penalties for ‘straw purchasing’
- violence interruption funding
- investment in children and family mental health services
- increased funding for schools
Ending Gun Violence & Creating Safer Communities: I’m the Co-Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and have led efforts to ban assault weapons, implement background checks, and close loopholes to keep guns out of the hands of bad actors. Last Congress, I voted to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — the most comprehensive gun safety legislation in 30 years. Our work isn’t done yet.
State Senator, District 16, Chris Kolker (term ending Jan. 2029, kolkerforcolorado.com)
I am proud of the work of our Democratic caucus, in both the House and the Senate, to address gun violence at the local level in the absence of federal action. I am committed to ending the senseless acts of gun violence in our communities and was a sponsor of the bill to prohibit the carrying of firearms in sensitive spaces, such as our schools and government buildings. We must and can do more.
Below is a list of gun legislation passed recently in Colorado, some of which I have been fortunate to vote for.
SB24-131 Prohibiting Carrying Firearms in Sensitive Spaces Concerning prohibiting carrying a firearm in sensitive spaces recognized by the United States supreme court as places at which longstanding laws prohibited carrying firearms, such as in certain government buildings, schools, and polling places. Governor Polis signed: 05/31/2024
Sen. Kolker also added, “I’m taking a proactive stance on safety by keeping firearms out of sensitive areas, such as schools, government buildings, and places where constitutional rights are exercised. It's a common-sense measure to protect our community and prevent our potential acts of violence.”
SB24-003 Colorado Bureau of Investigation Authority to Investigate Firearms Crimes Concerning the authority of the Colorado bureau of investigation to investigate illegal activity involving firearms, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. Governor Polis signed: 05/15/2024
HB24-1122 Protection Orders for Victims of Crimes Concerning civil protection orders for victims of domestic-related crimes. Governor Polis signed: 06/03/2024
HB24-1174 Concealed Carry Permits & Training Concerning permits to carry a concealed handgun, and, in connection therewith, establishing standards for concealed handgun training classes. Governor Polis signed: 06/04/2024
HB24-1348 Secure Firearm Storage in a Vehicle Concerning a requirement to securely store a firearm in a vehicle. Governor Polis signed: 05/15/2024
HB24-1349 Firearms & Ammunition Excise Tax Concerning a new excise tax related to firearms, and, in connection therewith, contingent on voter approval of the new tax and the retention by the state of all revenue generated by the new tax at the 2024 general election, levying an excise tax on the net taxable sales of gun dealers, gun manufacturers, and ammunition vendors from the retail sale in this state of any firearm, firearm precursor part, or ammunition, requiring the excise tax revenue to be spent for mental health services, including for military veterans and at-risk youth, school safety and gun violence prevention, and support services for victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes, and making an appropriation. Governor Polis signed: 06/05/2024
HB24-1353 Firearms Dealer Requirements & Permit Concerning requirements to engage in the business of dealing in firearms, and, in connection therewith, establishing a state firearms dealer permit and making an appropriation. Governor Polis signed: 06/07/2024
SB23-279 Unserialized Firearms And Firearm Components Concerning prohibited activity related to firearms, and, in connection therewith, regulating firearms and firearm frames and receivers that do not have serial numbers; prohibiting manufacture of firearms, frames, and receivers by unlicensed persons; establishing a process for serializing firearms, frames, and receivers; and designating machine gun conversion devices as dangerous weapons. Governor Polis signed: 6/2/23
HB23-1219 Waiting Period To Deliver A Firearm Concerning establishing a minimum three-day waiting period prior to the delivery of a purchased firearm. Governor Polis signed: 4/28/23
SB23-169 Increasing Minimum Age To Purchase Firearms Concerning increasing the legal age to purchase a firearm to twenty-one years of age, with limited exceptions. Governor Polis signed: 04/28/2023
HB23-1143 Federal Authorize Firearms For DACA Peace Officers Concerning measures related to seeking federal authorization for certain immigrants to possess firearms to be a peace officer. Governor Polis signed: 04/27/2023
SB23-168 Gun Violence Victims' Access To Judicial System Concerning gun violence victims' access to the judicial system. Governor Polis signed: 04/28/2023
HB22-1257 2022 Criminal And Juvenile Justice Commission Recommendations It is illegal for someone to possess a firearm if the person was convicted of or adjudicated for a victim's right act crime that is a felony. The bill adds more felony offenses to the convictions that prohibit a person from possessing a firearm. Governor Polis signed: 04/7/2022
HB22-1086 The Vote Without Fear Act Prohibiting openly carrying firearms at a voting location. Governor Polis signed: 03/30/2022
SB21-078 Lost Or Stolen Firearms The responsibility of an individual firearm owner is to report a missing firearm. Governor Polis signed: 04/19/2021
HB21-1106 Safe Storage Of Firearms Measures to secure firearms to prevent use by persons not lawfully permitted to possess firearms. Governor Polis signed: 04/19/2021
SB21-256 Local Regulation Of Firearms Permitting regulation of firearms by local governing bodies. Governor Polis signed: 06/19/2021
HB21-1298 Expand Firearm Transfer Background Check Requirements Concerning the conditions under which a firearm transfer may be prohibited following a background check, and, in connection therewith, requiring approval of a firearm transfer prior to a transfer by a licensed dealer, establishing grounds for denying a transfer, and clarifying the process to appeal a denied transfer. Governor Polis signed: 06/19/2021
HB21-1299 Office Of Gun Violence Prevention Concerning establishing an office of gun violence prevention, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. Governor Polis signed: 06/19/2021
HB19-1177 Extreme Risk Protection Orders If a family or household member or a law enforcement officer establishes by clear and convincing evidence that a person poses a significant risk to self or others by having a firearm in his or her custody or control or by possessing, purchasing, or receiving a firearm, the court may issue a continuing ERPO. Governor Polis signed: 04/12/2019
HB18-1077 Penalty For Burglary Of Firearms Concerning the penalty for a person who commits burglary to acquire firearms, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. Governor Hickenlooper signed: 06/6/2018
POSITIONS:
Colorado Attorney General, Phil Weiser (term ending Jan. 2027, coag.gov)
Across the state, Sheriffs and other law enforcement members know that safe gun storage saves lives. Together, following in the footsteps of a model Larimer County coalition, we are encouraging state residents to safely secure their firearms so they can’t be used either by youth in the home, or by those seeking to steal them from vehicles. Colorado is a state dedicated to caring for each other, and taking responsibility for storing firearms safely is a vital aspect of that care.
Arapahoe District Attorney, 18th Judicial District, Amy Padden (term ending Jan. 2029, amypadden.com)
Keep guns out of the hands of the wrong people.
People convicted of violent crimes and domestic violence lose their right to have access to guns. Amy supports responsible firearm ownership and will ensure that anyone who breaks our laws regarding gun ownership will face harsh penalties. Making sure that violent felons and domestic abusers do not have access to guns will make our streets safer, protect victims, and reduce violent crime.
CU Board of Regents at large Elliott Hood (term ending Jan. 2011, hoodforcolorado.com)
Ban Concealed carry on campus
CU permits concealed carry on campus.
This is fundamentally wrong.
No matter how you feel about guns—whether you are an ardent defender of the 2nd Amendment or think all guns should be banned—we can all reasonably agree that there are certain sensitive places that guns simply do not belong, and campuses and classrooms are among those places.
We have the authority under state and federal law to ban conceal carry, and as Regent I will be a voice for doing so.