Votes on these important bills could come at any time. Let your lawmakers know you support them.
In combination with the two bills already signed by Governor Polis (see below), enactment of these three bills, as well as the Domestic Violence Relinquishment bill, HB 1255 which has passed the House, will move Colorado one giant step forward in reducing gun violence.
Sponsors: Representatives Judy Amabile and Steven Woodrow, Senators Julie Gonzales and Brittany Pettersen
Status:
Passed the House. Awaiting Senate Vote.
This bill addresses four issues on Background Checks:
Sponsors: Representatives Tom Sullivan and Jennifer Bacon, Senators Rhonda Fields and Chris Hansen
Status: Passed the House. Awaiting Senate Vote
This bill establishes the Office of Gun Violence Prevention with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in order to coordinate and promote effective activities to reduce gun violence. It will conduct public awareness campaigns on state and federal laws, especially the Extreme Risk Protection Orders law. If funds are available, it will award grants for community-based gun violence initiatives aimed at interrupting the cycle of violence.
Sponsors: Representatives Tom Sullivan and Jennifer Bacon, Senators Rhonda Fields and Chris Hansen
Status: Passed the House. Awaiting Senate Vote
This bill establishes the Office of Gun Violence Prevention with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in order to coordinate and promote effective activities to reduce gun violence. It will conduct public awareness campaigns on state and federal laws, especially the Extreme Risk Protection Orders law. If funds are available, it will award grants for community-based gun violence initiatives aimed at interrupting the cycle of violence.
Sponsors: Senators Stephen Fenberg, Dominick Moreno, Representatives Edie Hooton and Lindsey Daugherty
Status: Passed the Senate. Awaiting House Vote
This bill declares that the regulation of firearms is a matter of both state and local concern and removes some of the preemptive language passed in two laws enacted in 2003. It will remove those prohibitions and thereby permit:
.
These bills have passed this legislature and have become law:
HB21-1106 Safe Storage
Sponsors: Reps. Duran/Mullica, Sens. Bridges/Hansen
Safe Storage Fact Sheet 01.25.21
Status: Passed the House and Senate, signed into law by Gov. Polis on April 19, 2021 .
Requires gun owners to safely store firearms so that they are not accessible to juveniles or prohibited persons.
Requires gun stores to post information as to the law. Imposes a misdemeanor penalty.
Also requires Office of Suicide Prevention to post on web site information on safe storage and provides for education program if monies are available.
SB21-078 Reporting Lost and Stolen Firearms
Sponsors: Sens. Jaquez Lewis/Danielson and Reps. Sullivan and Herod
Status: Passed the House and Senate, signed into law by Gov. Polis on April 19, 2021 .
Requires individual gun owners to report to law enforcement within 5 days after discovering a firearm is lost or stolen.
Imposes $25 fine on first offense, misdemeanor on subsequent offenses.
THESE DANGEROUS BILLS HAVE ALL BEEN DEFEATED
HB21-1038 Guns in School
Sponsor: Rep. Neville
Status: Hearing Monday March 15th in House State, Civic, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
For the 9th straight year a bill to allow guns in public schools has been introduced. This particular bill would allow any person with a Concealed Carry permit to take a handgun into a K-12 public school (there are currently an estimated 280,000 permit holders in Colorado).
It capitalizes on the fear of school shootings, incorrectly assumes mass shooters seek out gun-free zones, and ignores that self-defense with guns is relatively rare and that armed citizens rarely successfully intervene in active mass shooters.
HB21-1098 Civil Liability with ERPO
Status: Assigned to House Judiciary. (Rep. Woog). Would allow anyone who suffers injury or damage who couldn’t defend self because of an ERPO to sue anyone who drafted, proposed, promoted or provided support for the 2019 ERPO (Extreme Risk Protections Orders) law. In case of death or disability, damages assessed from $100,000 – $100 million.
HB21-1082 Bypass Background Check with CCW permit
Sponsor: Rep. McKean
Status: Hearing Monday Mar. 15 in House Committee on State, Civic, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
Would permit anyone with a CCW permit to bypass background check when seeking transfer of firearm. rd appearance since 2006.
HB21-1070 Repeal Ammunition Magazine Ban
Sponsor: Rep. Hanks
Status: Hearing Monday, March 15 in the House Committee on State, Civic, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
Following the Aurora Theater and Sandy Hook School Massacres, Colorado enacted a law banning the purchase and possession of ammunition magazines of over 15 rounds. In the Aurora Theater, the assailant shot 70 people, killing 12, in just 90 seconds.
“High Capacity Magazines put the ‘mass’ in ‘mass shootings,’” stated Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy whose husband was shot and killed and son seriously wounded in a mass shooting. This is the 8th straight year this bill has appeared.
There are over 80 firearms-related bills already entered in Congress. This is a selection of prominent ones.
A bill to regulate assault weapons, to ensure that the right to keep and bear arms is not unlimited, and for other purposes. As of March 23, Senate Bill has 35 co-sponsors including Sen. Hickenlooper. House Bill has 194 co-sponsors including Reps. Crow, DeGette, Neguse and Perlmutter.
This bill resembles the 2013 background check law enacted in Colorado. It would require that all gun transfers be conducted through a licensed Federal Firearms Dealer (FFL), who is required to conduct a background check.
HR1446, closing the “Charleston Loophole.”
Sponsor: James Clyburn (SC)
Over 5 years ago, a white supremacist entered the Mother Emanuel AME church in Charleston, S.C. and shot and killed nine members at a Bible study. It turned out that the shooter was actually a prohibited gun buyer, but when he bought the weapon, errors in data entry delayed the background check, and the 3-day limit on BG checks expired. The murder gun was then released to the shooter.
H.R. 38 Federally Mandated Concealed Carry (CCW) Reciprocity
Status: Introduced. 171 co-sponsors including Reps. Boebert, Lamborn, and Buck from Colorado. Would mandate that every state honor CCW permits from other states and also people from permitless states, and allow someone denied a permit in Colorado to get one in a state that doesn’t require residency.
Would allow individuals to take their guns into K-12 schools, and to sue law officers or political subdivision if they are arrested or detained.
H.R. 95 Silencers (Hearing Protection Act)
Status: Introduced. 47 co-sponsors including Reps. Lamborn and Buck from Colorado.
Would make silencers easier to obtain. Danger of not knowing location of shooter. Weakens Shotspotter.
Contact your legislators by phone call or email . Your message can ensure that legislators who may only be listening to the NRA know that their voters have a different opinion.
Your donation is an important form of activism. Please support our work in the legislature with a gift today.
Can only submit 5 bills each session, unless granted permission by leadership.
Must submit bills by a specified date, unless granted permission by leadership for a late bill.
Finds a supportive legislator in the other chamber as a sponsor and lines up co-sponsors.
Works with legislative services to draft language consistent with state statute.
Legislators are anxious to pass bills under their own names to demonstrate to their constituents their commitment to working for the good of Colorado and their district.
In Colorado the title of a bill is extremely important and legislators are careful in how they craft the title. Under the Colorado constitution, a measure cannot cover more than one issue. Additionally, the bill cannot be amended unless the amendment conforms with the title. Unfriendly amendments have even occurred which erased the bill entirely and replaced it with new language. Sometimes amendments are applied which have strategic intent for election purposes.
First reading is when the bill is read across by the clerk in the first chamber of reference (house or senate).
The bill is then assigned to a committee of reference by the majority leadership of the chamber. Sometimes the leadership will assign the bill to several committees. State, Veterans and Military Affairs committee is often used by the leadership for bills they do not want to see continue.
All bills with a fiscal note must be approved by the Appropriations Committee before going to the “committee of the whole” (the house or senate chamber). Appropriations can defeat the bill for any reason, not just monetary. No testimony is taken at Appropriations.
The committee of reference takes public testimony and discusses the bill. It will consider amendments and then vote whether or not to approve the bill.
Bills that are approved by a majority of the committee then go on to the next committee of reference, which could be another committee or the committee of the whole.
Bills that fail to receive a majority of votes in committee are usually considered for postponing indefinitely (PI). Bills that are PI’ed are dead for the session.
Committee hearings (except Appropriations) generally occur in the afternoons or after adjournment of the Committee of the Whole. They also have a set meeting weekly schedule, although this may all change towards the end of the session.
Only rarely will a committee meet on Friday.
A bill hearing must appear on the calendar at least 48-hours before it is to be considered.
Occurs with the Committee of the Whole (entire House or Senate).
Bills, as amended by committee(s), are presented to the entire chamber and are debated.
Citizens may observe from the gallery, but no public testimony is taken.
Bills can be amended at 2nd reading.
When a vote is taken, if the bill is defeated, it is considered dead (although occasionally there is a parliamentary move to reconsider).
The votes on second reading are not recorded, unless someone does a parliamentary maneuver to ensure recording of the votes.
In order to obtain approval of a chamber, the bill must be approved on a 3rd reading.
Therefore, every legislator has an opportunity to rethink his or her vote on a bill (and sometimes get an earful from the citizenry).
It is generally considered bad form to offer amendments to a third reading of a bill, and legislators have to receive permission of the chamber to offer one.
3rd reading votes are final and are recorded. Votes appear in the journal of the chamber.
After the bill passes 3rd reading, it then proceeds to the other chamber for the same 3 readings. The successful amendments from the first chamber are incorporated into an “engrossed” bill.
After a bill passes 3rd reading in the second chamber, it heads to the Governor for his signature or veto, unless the 2nd chamber or committees amended the bill. Those Amended bills are sent back to the first chamber, where a concurrence vote is sought.
If the first chamber does not concur with the changes applied by the second chamber, a conference committee is appointed to work out the differences. The bill that emerges from the conference committee must be approved by both chambers before heading to the Governor.
Governor may choose to sign, veto, or take no action on a bill.
A bill becomes law if:
In mid-March legislative attention turns to the state budget and the Long bill (because it is very long). This bill funds the entire state government. The Long bill is a product of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC), a powerful bipartisan committee that works closely all session focused on the state budget.
Colorado will be one of the key states watched for control of the U.S. Senate. There is one Republican challenging the incumbent, Sen. Cory Gardner, and ten Democrats.
Use the toggle button above to learn about Republican and Democratic positions on gun violence prevention.
Cory Gardner
The incumbent U.S. Senator, Gardner is a fervent opponent of gun violence prevention, and would likely oppose virtually all of our key gun violence prevention measures. His website is silent on all of our key proposals, but does say he is “proud to support and protect an individual’s right to keep and bear arms.” He refers to misguided attempts to limit that right, which would likely include gun violence prevention measures.
Web site: https://www.gardner.senate.gov/about-cory/biography
Actions: As a Colorado House member, was the sponsor of the first “Stand Your Ground –
business bill, which would have granted immunity for use of lethal force in business location.
Similar bills have been defeated for 14 years.
Selected Votes:
2016 – S. amdt 4720 Voted NO on prohibited firearms to terrorists
2016 – S. amdt 4750 Voted NO on Fix Gun Checks Act
2014 – H. amdt 1098 Voted YES on prohibiting DC from implementing firearms laws
2011 – HR 822 – Voted YES on Concealed Carry Reciprocity
2007 – Voted NO on Colorado SB07-34 CCW residency restrictions
Margo Dupre
Realtor and the only Republican challenger to Cory Gardner
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Margot.for.US.Senate/
Diana Bray
Psychologist and climate activist.
Website:
https://dianaforcolorado.com
Lorena Garcia
Community organizer
Web site: https://lorenaforsenate.com/who-is-lorena/
John Hickenlooper
Former mayor of Denver and Governor of Colorado. Signed 2013 Gun laws, including Universal Background Checks, High Capacity Magazine Ban, and Domestic Violence Relinquishment .In June 2014, told sheriffs he regretted signing the High Capacity Magazine Ban law and that he did so because of a staff commitment, saying, “No one in our office thought it would get through the legislature.”
Web site: https://www.hickenlooper.com
Andrew Romanoff
Former speaker of the Colorado House, candidate for US Senate in 2010 and nominee for US House CD 6 in 2014.
Brought Democrats into control of Colorado House after 28 years in minority. Only Speaker to serve 2 terms in the last 20+ years.
Brought the mental health community into support of ERPO, worked to get bill introduced in 2018, and was speaker at the introductory press conference.
Website: https://www.andrewromanoff.com/
Stephany Rose Spaulding
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs professor and nominee for US House CD 5 in 2018.
Web site: https://stephanyforco.com
Trish Zornio
Biomedical scientist
Web site: https://zornio2020.com/
Erik Underwood
A tech entrepreneur running as a Democrat. In 2016 he ran as a Republican for the U.S. Senate. At the state Republican convention, he stated: “They’re not going to take your guns away if I’m in the United States Senate.” Web site: https://www.erikunderwood.com
Michelle Ferringno Warren
Immigration activist, community organizer Web site: https://michelleforcolorado.com
Dave Goldfischer
Professor at the University of Denver, U.S. national security professional
Web site: https://www.goldfischer2020.com
Critter Milton
Financial adviser, outdoor enthusiast.
Web site: https://crittermilton.com/
This is just a sampling of what Democratic candidates have on their web/Facebook sites. We suspect there is little difference between candidates on gun violence prevention philosophies. Some have not chosen to comment on specific gun violence prevention issues even though we understand they have expressed support elsewhere. This will be updated, and eventually Ceasefire will do a questionnaire.
Colorado will be one of the key states watched for control of the U.S. Senate. There is one Republican challenging the incumbent, Sen. Cory Gardner, and ten Democrats.
Use the toggle button above to learn about Republican and Democratic positions on gun violence prevention.
Cory Gardner
The incumbent U.S. Senator, Gardner is a fervent opponent of gun violence prevention, and would likely oppose virtually all of our key gun violence prevention measures. His website is silent on all of our key proposals, but does say he is “proud to support and protect an individual’s right to keep and bear arms.” He refers to misguided attempts to limit that right, which would likely include gun violence prevention measures.
Web site: https://www.gardner.senate.gov/about-cory/biography
Actions: As a Colorado House member, was the sponsor of the first “Stand Your Ground –
business bill, which would have granted immunity for use of lethal force in business location.
Similar bills have been defeated for 14 years.
Selected Votes:
2016 – S. amdt 4720 Voted NO on prohibited firearms to terrorists
2016 – S. amdt 4750 Voted NO on Fix Gun Checks Act
2014 – H. amdt 1098 Voted YES on prohibiting DC from implementing firearms laws
2011 – HR 822 – Voted YES on Concealed Carry Reciprocity
2007 – Voted NO on Colorado SB07-34 CCW residency restrictions
Margo Dupre
Realtor and the only Republican challenger to Cory Gardner
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Margot.for.US.Senate/
Diana Bray
Psychologist and climate activist.
Website:
https://dianaforcolorado.com
Lorena Garcia
Community organizer
Web site: https://lorenaforsenate.com/who-is-lorena/
John Hickenlooper
Former mayor of Denver and Governor of Colorado. Signed 2013 Gun laws, including Universal Background Checks, High Capacity Magazine Ban, and Domestic Violence Relinquishment .In June 2014, told sheriffs he regretted signing the High Capacity Magazine Ban law and that he did so because of a staff commitment, saying, “No one in our office thought it would get through the legislature.”
Web site: https://www.hickenlooper.com
Andrew Romanoff
Former speaker of the Colorado House, candidate for US Senate in 2010 and nominee for US House CD 6 in 2014.
Brought Democrats into control of Colorado House after 28 years in minority. Only Speaker to serve 2 terms in the last 20+ years.
Brought the mental health community into support of ERPO, worked to get bill introduced in 2018, and was speaker at the introductory press conference.
Website: https://www.andrewromanoff.com/
Stephany Rose Spaulding
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs professor and nominee for US House CD 5 in 2018.
Web site: https://stephanyforco.com
Trish Zornio
Biomedical scientist
Web site: https://zornio2020.com/
Erik Underwood
A tech entrepreneur running as a Democrat. In 2016 he ran as a Republican for the U.S. Senate. At the state Republican convention, he stated: “They’re not going to take your guns away if I’m in the United States Senate.” Web site: https://www.erikunderwood.com
Michelle Ferringno Warren
Immigration activist, community organizer Web site: https://michelleforcolorado.com
Dave Goldfischer
Professor at the University of Denver, U.S. national security professional
Web site: https://www.goldfischer2020.com
Critter Milton
Financial adviser, outdoor enthusiast.
Web site: https://crittermilton.com/
This is just a sampling of what Democratic candidates have on their web/Facebook sites. We suspect there is little difference between candidates on gun violence prevention philosophies. Some have not chosen to comment on specific gun violence prevention issues even though we understand they have expressed support elsewhere. This will be updated, and eventually Ceasefire will do a questionnaire.
Colorado will be one of the key states watched for control of the U.S. Senate. There is one Republican challenging the incumbent, Sen. Cory Gardner, and ten Democrats.
Use the toggle button above to learn about Republican and Democratic positions on gun violence prevention.
Cory Gardner
The incumbent U.S. Senator, Gardner is a fervent opponent of gun violence prevention, and would likely oppose virtually all of our key gun violence prevention measures. His website is silent on all of our key proposals, but does say he is “proud to support and protect an individual’s right to keep and bear arms.” He refers to misguided attempts to limit that right, which would likely include gun violence prevention measures.
Web site: https://www.gardner.senate.gov/about-cory/biography
Actions: As a Colorado House member, was the sponsor of the first “Stand Your Ground –
business bill, which would have granted immunity for use of lethal force in business location.
Similar bills have been defeated for 14 years.
Selected Votes:
2016 – S. amdt 4720 Voted NO on prohibited firearms to terrorists
2016 – S. amdt 4750 Voted NO on Fix Gun Checks Act
2014 – H. amdt 1098 Voted YES on prohibiting DC from implementing firearms laws
2011 – HR 822 – Voted YES on Concealed Carry Reciprocity
2007 – Voted NO on Colorado SB07-34 CCW residency restrictions
Margo Dupre
Realtor and the only Republican challenger to Cory Gardner
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Margot.for.US.Senate/
Diana Bray
Psychologist and climate activist.
Website:
https://dianaforcolorado.com
Lorena Garcia
Community organizer
Web site: https://lorenaforsenate.com/who-is-lorena/
John Hickenlooper
Former mayor of Denver and Governor of Colorado. Signed 2013 Gun laws, including Universal Background Checks, High Capacity Magazine Ban, and Domestic Violence Relinquishment .In June 2014, told sheriffs he regretted signing the High Capacity Magazine Ban law and that he did so because of a staff commitment, saying, “No one in our office thought it would get through the legislature.”
Web site: https://www.hickenlooper.com
Andrew Romanoff
Former speaker of the Colorado House, candidate for US Senate in 2010 and nominee for US House CD 6 in 2014.
Brought Democrats into control of Colorado House after 28 years in minority. Only Speaker to serve 2 terms in the last 20+ years.
Brought the mental health community into support of ERPO, worked to get bill introduced in 2018, and was speaker at the introductory press conference.
Website: https://www.andrewromanoff.com/
Stephany Rose Spaulding
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs professor and nominee for US House CD 5 in 2018.
Web site: https://stephanyforco.com
Trish Zornio
Biomedical scientist
Web site: https://zornio2020.com/
Erik Underwood
A tech entrepreneur running as a Democrat. In 2016 he ran as a Republican for the U.S. Senate. At the state Republican convention, he stated: “They’re not going to take your guns away if I’m in the United States Senate.” Web site: https://www.erikunderwood.com
Michelle Ferringno Warren
Immigration activist, community organizer Web site: https://michelleforcolorado.com
Dave Goldfischer
Professor at the University of Denver, U.S. national security professional
Web site: https://www.goldfischer2020.com
Critter Milton
Financial adviser, outdoor enthusiast.
Web site: https://crittermilton.com/
This is just a sampling of what Democratic candidates have on their web/Facebook sites. We suspect there is little difference between candidates on gun violence prevention philosophies. Some have not chosen to comment on specific gun violence prevention issues even though we understand they have expressed support elsewhere. This will be updated, and eventually Ceasefire will do a questionnaire.
Colorado will be one of the key states watched for control of the U.S. Senate. There is one Republican challenging the incumbent, Sen. Cory Gardner, and ten Democrats.
Use the toggle button above to learn about Republican and Democratic positions on gun violence prevention.
Cory Gardner
The incumbent U.S. Senator, Gardner is a fervent opponent of gun violence prevention, and would likely oppose virtually all of our key gun violence prevention measures. His website is silent on all of our key proposals, but does say he is “proud to support and protect an individual’s right to keep and bear arms.” He refers to misguided attempts to limit that right, which would likely include gun violence prevention measures.
Web site: https://www.gardner.senate.gov/about-cory/biography
Actions: As a Colorado House member, was the sponsor of the first “Stand Your Ground –
business bill, which would have granted immunity for use of lethal force in business location.
Similar bills have been defeated for 14 years.
Selected Votes:
2016 – S. amdt 4720 Voted NO on prohibited firearms to terrorists
2016 – S. amdt 4750 Voted NO on Fix Gun Checks Act
2014 – H. amdt 1098 Voted YES on prohibiting DC from implementing firearms laws
2011 – HR 822 – Voted YES on Concealed Carry Reciprocity
2007 – Voted NO on Colorado SB07-34 CCW residency restrictions
Margo Dupre
Realtor and the only Republican challenger to Cory Gardner
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Margot.for.US.Senate/
Diana Bray
Psychologist and climate activist.
Website:
https://dianaforcolorado.com
Lorena Garcia
Community organizer
Web site: https://lorenaforsenate.com/who-is-lorena/
John Hickenlooper
Former mayor of Denver and Governor of Colorado. Signed 2013 Gun laws, including Universal Background Checks, High Capacity Magazine Ban, and Domestic Violence Relinquishment .In June 2014, told sheriffs he regretted signing the High Capacity Magazine Ban law and that he did so because of a staff commitment, saying, “No one in our office thought it would get through the legislature.”
Web site: https://www.hickenlooper.com
Andrew Romanoff
Former speaker of the Colorado House, candidate for US Senate in 2010 and nominee for US House CD 6 in 2014.
Brought Democrats into control of Colorado House after 28 years in minority. Only Speaker to serve 2 terms in the last 20+ years.
Brought the mental health community into support of ERPO, worked to get bill introduced in 2018, and was speaker at the introductory press conference.
Website: https://www.andrewromanoff.com/
Stephany Rose Spaulding
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs professor and nominee for US House CD 5 in 2018.
Web site: https://stephanyforco.com
Trish Zornio
Biomedical scientist
Web site: https://zornio2020.com/
Erik Underwood
A tech entrepreneur running as a Democrat. In 2016 he ran as a Republican for the U.S. Senate. At the state Republican convention, he stated: “They’re not going to take your guns away if I’m in the United States Senate.” Web site: https://www.erikunderwood.com
Michelle Ferringno Warren
Immigration activist, community organizer Web site: https://michelleforcolorado.com
Dave Goldfischer
Professor at the University of Denver, U.S. national security professional
Web site: https://www.goldfischer2020.com
Critter Milton
Financial adviser, outdoor enthusiast.
Web site: https://crittermilton.com/
This is just a sampling of what Democratic candidates have on their web/Facebook sites. We suspect there is little difference between candidates on gun violence prevention philosophies. Some have not chosen to comment on specific gun violence prevention issues even though we understand they have expressed support elsewhere. This will be updated, and eventually Ceasefire will do a questionnaire.
