Volunteers Met With Over 50 Lawmakers Advocating for Action to Strengthen Colorado’s Gun Violence Prevention Laws
Volunteers with Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Also Testified in Opposition of Dangerous HB 1055, Which Would Repeal the State Firearm Dealer Licensing Law
DENVER — Today, the Colorado chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, issued the following statement after Colorado House lawmakers rejected dangerous legislation HB 1055, which would repeal the state firearm dealer licensing law, passed just last year to help prevent firearm trafficking in ColoradoThe vote came following the Colorado chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action rallied at the capitol with over 100 supporters, meeting with lawmakers and calling on them to reject this dangerous bill.
“We’re at the Capitol to remind lawmakers that addressing the number one killer of children and teens in our country needs to be their priority,” said Linda Magid, lead of the Colorado chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Illegal guns don’t start that way—dealers play a key role in preventing their flow to illegal markets. Last year, lawmakers took decisive action with HB 24-1353, and we applaud their rejection today of HB 1055, which sought to undo this progress. It’s vital that firearm sellers prevent guns from reaching illegal markets. Moms Demand Action will keep continuing showing up at the capitol and demanding action from our lawmakers until we end the gun violence epidemic.”
“When gun dealers facilitate illegal firearm sales or engage in reckless business practices, they’re contributing to the gun violence crisis that is the leading cause of death for my generation,” said Alexander Cisneros, lead with University of Colorado-Boulder Students Demand Action. “I and other students spoke in strong opposition to HB 1055 because the safeguards it seeks to repeal are just common sense. I mean, who wouldn’t agree that firearm dealers should have to safely secure their merchandise? Don’t we all want to make sure that the people selling deadly weapons are taking basic steps to make sure their products aren’t endangering the public? Gun violence is the primary killer of my generation and we will continue to show up at the capitol and demand our lawmakers prioritize our lives.”
HB 1055 would have repealed the state firearm dealer licensing law. Last year, Colorado lawmakers decisively passed House Bill 24-1353, which created a requirement for retail firearm dealers to obtain a state permit to sell firearms in Colorado. The law also requires firearm dealers and employees to undergo background checks, receive safety training, and implement security measures.
Implementing a state firearms dealer permitting system helps stem the flow of guns into the illegal market and helps fill key gaps in federal law regulating gun dealers, including instituting required safety education and training for gun dealers, requiring the adoption of basic security measures to guard against straw purchases and theft, and completing more frequent periodic inspections to ensure compliance with state and federal laws. They ultimately help prevent firearm trafficking in Colorado.
Colorado continues to be a leader in gun violence prevention, climbing up in national rankings to be 10th in gun law strength, after passing multiple critical gun violence prevention bills last year. Already this session, the Colorado legislature has advanced:
- SB 3, which already passed the senate and will be heard in the House judiciary committee next week. SB3, would build on Colorado’s existing high-capacity magazine prohibition, by prohibiting the purchase and sale of all rapid fire conversion devices and establishing a permit to purchase dangerous semi-automatic military style firearms that can accept high capacity magazines;
- HB 1133, which passed the House this week and now heads to the Senate. HB 1133 would help the state regulate the sale of ammunition by requiring dealers only sell to purchasers at least 21 years and older, and require ammunition is placed “behind the counter,” and require that ammunition dealers follow basic safety measures to prevent the theft of ammunition, and;
- HB 1238, which advanced out of the House committee on Monday and now heads to a floor vote. This bill strengthens the requirements for those who operate gun shows in Colorado and those who sell and buy guns there by requiring gun show promoters to prepare and submit security plans to local law enforcement and it would also require gun show promoters to have liability insurance, implement security measures (including video surveillance), and prohibit anyone under 21 from entering unless accompanied by a parent, grandparent, or guardian, and,
- Lawmakers have also rejected a dangerous bill, HB 1164, which is permitless carry legislation and would strip Colorado of its concealed carry permitting system, which ensures people who carry hidden, loaded handguns in public undergo a background check, complete safety training, and obtain a permit.
In an average year, 977 people die and 1,392 are wounded by guns in Colorado. Guns are the second leading cause of death among children and teens in Colorado, and an average of 84 children and teens die by guns every year. Gun violence in Colorado costs $2,039 per resident each year. Gun deaths and injuries cost Colorado $11.7 billion each year, of which $156.1 million is paid by taxpayers.