Today, the Colorado chapter of Moms Demand Action, part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, testified in the Colorado House Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee against HB22-1033, a bill to eliminate Colorado’s permitting system and allow individuals to carry hidden, loaded handguns in public without a permit or safety training. The committee defeated the bill on a 8-5 vote.
“Permitless carry does not belong in Colorado – there is zero reason to dismantle public safety measures that keep guns out of the wrong hands, especially since this policy has increased gun violence in other states that have taken this dangerous step,” said Maria Ogneva, a volunteer with Moms Demand Action in Colorado. “We’re proud to have lawmakers in the statehouse that will stand with us in rejecting any attempts to dismantle common sense, effective gun safety measures.”
Eliminating Colorado’s concealed handgun license requirement would put Colorado communities in danger by allowing people with dangerous histories — who would not have passed a background check — and those without any firearm safety training to carry loaded handguns in public. Bills that eliminate state permitting requirements have been proven to increase gun violence in other states that have tried similar policies. States that have weakened their firearm permitting system have experienced an 11 percent increase in handgun homicide rates and a 13-15 percent increase in violent crime rates.
What to know about permitless carry:
- Permitless carry laws strip away a critical tool that law enforcement uses to differentiate between responsible gun owners and those who are prohibited from carrying a loaded weapon in public.
- Permitless carry has been widely opposed by law enforcement across the country in states that have attempted to eliminate permitting requirements.
- Polling also shows that permitting systems like Colorado’s current system are overwhelmingly popular. 88 percent of Americans think you should get a permit before carrying a concealed gun in public.
More information about permitless carry is available here. Additional information about gun violence in Colorado is available here.