Here’s What You Need to Know:
DENVER — This week, multiple important gun safety bills advanced in the Colorado legislature. Here’s this week’s legislative advancement:
- On Monday, House Bill 24-1174, legislation to expand training requirements for permits to carry concealed handguns in Colorado passed out of the state House. This bill would create a culture of responsible gun carrying in the state and help potentially prevent gun violence. It now heads to the Senate.
- On Tuesday, Senate Bill 24-003, legislation to empower the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate attempted illegal firearm purchases passed a second reading on the Senate floor. The bill could be voted out of the Senate as early as today.
- On Wednesday, House Bill 24-1292, an assault weapons prohibition, was assigned to the House Judiciary committee. The bill will be heard on Tuesday, the 19th in the Judiciary Committee in the Old State Library room.
- Both House Bill 24-1270, a firearm liability insurance requirement bill and House Bill 24-1353, legislation to require firearm dealers to have permits, were both scheduled for hearings on Thursday, which were unfortunately moved due to weather. Both are expected to be reassigned next week.
“Colorado lawmakers are showing their commitment to advancing gun violence prevention in our state,” said Kathy Hagen, a volunteer with the Colorado chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We are grateful to House lawmakers for passing HB24-1174. This legislation will create a culture of safer gun ownership that could save lives. This is only step one of Colorado during the 2024 legislative session. We are excited to continue to see movement with these lifesaving bills, including an assault weapons ban.”
“The devastating impacts of gun violence hits home for a lot of us in Colorado, but we’ve refused to allow these tragedies to define us,” said Hayley Crist, a volunteer leader with the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs Students Demand Action chapter. “When guns are the leading cause of death for our generation, we can’t afford to not meet this crisis with urgency. We’re grateful to see our allies in the statehouse continue to prioritize gun safety legislation that will save lives.”
In an average year, 930 people die and 466 are wounded by guns in Colorado. Guns are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Colorado, and an average of 79 children and teens die by guns every year, of which 51% are suicides and 45% are homicides. More information about gun violence in Colorado is available here.