(Trends Wide) — Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed four bills into law Friday to reduce gun violence and increase public safety.
This decision was made after several shooting incidents that took place in Colorado over the course of several years.
For example, last year at a Colorado Springs nightclub a 22-year-old opened fire on the scene, killing 5 and injuring more than a dozen. Ultimately the perpetrator was charged with 305 counts and sentenced to life in prison.
Events like this have marked the history of Colorado, where the events that occurred at Columbine High School in Littleton are still remembered. Where two students killed 12 of their classmates and a teacher, to later commit suicide.
On March 22 of this year, a student also shot two employees of a Denver school. By that date, there had already been 18 shootings in 2023 at elementary and secondary schools across the country.
The four bills
The first, called HB23-1219, establishes a minimum waiting period of three days before delivery of a purchased firearm. Failure to comply with the three-day waiting period will be punished with a fine of US$500 the first time and US$5,000 the following times.
The second bill, dubbed SB23-168, will remove a protection on firearms and ammunition manufacturers’ records and “requires each member of the industry engaged in the manufacture, distribution, import, trade, or retail sale of wholesale or retail of a product of industry in Colorado apply reasonable controls and precautions related to the product of industry in their control,” according to the legislation.
In the third, named SB23-169, the age increase to own a weapon to 21 years is raised. Unlawfully possessing a firearm under this age would be a class 2 misdemeanor for the first offense and a class 5 felony for the second and subsequent offenses.
There are exceptions in the law that include those who attend a firearms safety or hunter education course, authorized target practice, organized firearms competitions, or hunting as permitted by law.
Exceptions are also allowed if a resident under the age of 21 is an active member of the United States armed forces or is participating in a shooting class under the supervision of “a law enforcement officer or a person who is 25 years of age and a certified firearms education instructor.” hunters or firearms training,” according to a summary of the legislation.
The fourth and final, SC23-170, is an expansion of the existing red flag law. This allows more people to file for an extreme risk protection order.
District attorneys, licensed educators, licensed health care providers, and licensed mental health workers will now be able to file for an extreme risk protection order, in addition to family or household members and entrusted agencies of law enforcement or members who were previously allowed.
The bill also requires the state’s office for the prevention of gun violence to provide annual funding for a public education campaign about the existence and process of obtaining extreme protection orders, as well as the establishment of a statewide customer assistance hotline. public.
“We are taking some important steps today to help make Colorado one of the 10 safest states and to build on the work underway to make Colorado communities safer,” Polis said.
“Last year I was proud to sign a comprehensive public safety action plan into law to put Colorado on track to become one of the ten safest states in the nation, and this legislation today will improve public safety and reduce gun violence. I thank the sponsors of the bill for bringing this common sense legislation to my desk,” he added.
With reporting from Trends Wide’s Jennifer Henderson
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(Trends Wide) — Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed four bills into law Friday to reduce gun violence and increase public safety.
This decision was made after several shooting incidents that took place in Colorado over the course of several years.
For example, last year at a Colorado Springs nightclub a 22-year-old opened fire on the scene, killing 5 and injuring more than a dozen. Ultimately the perpetrator was charged with 305 counts and sentenced to life in prison.
Events like this have marked the history of Colorado, where the events that occurred at Columbine High School in Littleton are still remembered. Where two students killed 12 of their classmates and a teacher, to later commit suicide.
On March 22 of this year, a student also shot two employees of a Denver school. By that date, there had already been 18 shootings in 2023 at elementary and secondary schools across the country.
The four bills
The first, called HB23-1219, establishes a minimum waiting period of three days before delivery of a purchased firearm. Failure to comply with the three-day waiting period will be punished with a fine of US$500 the first time and US$5,000 the following times.
The second bill, dubbed SB23-168, will remove a protection on firearms and ammunition manufacturers’ records and “requires each member of the industry engaged in the manufacture, distribution, import, trade, or retail sale of wholesale or retail of a product of industry in Colorado apply reasonable controls and precautions related to the product of industry in their control,” according to the legislation.
In the third, named SB23-169, the age increase to own a weapon to 21 years is raised. Unlawfully possessing a firearm under this age would be a class 2 misdemeanor for the first offense and a class 5 felony for the second and subsequent offenses.
There are exceptions in the law that include those who attend a firearms safety or hunter education course, authorized target practice, organized firearms competitions, or hunting as permitted by law.
Exceptions are also allowed if a resident under the age of 21 is an active member of the United States armed forces or is participating in a shooting class under the supervision of “a law enforcement officer or a person who is 25 years of age and a certified firearms education instructor.” hunters or firearms training,” according to a summary of the legislation.
The fourth and final, SC23-170, is an expansion of the existing red flag law. This allows more people to file for an extreme risk protection order.
District attorneys, licensed educators, licensed health care providers, and licensed mental health workers will now be able to file for an extreme risk protection order, in addition to family or household members and entrusted agencies of law enforcement or members who were previously allowed.
The bill also requires the state’s office for the prevention of gun violence to provide annual funding for a public education campaign about the existence and process of obtaining extreme protection orders, as well as the establishment of a statewide customer assistance hotline. public.
“We are taking some important steps today to help make Colorado one of the 10 safest states and to build on the work underway to make Colorado communities safer,” Polis said.
“Last year I was proud to sign a comprehensive public safety action plan into law to put Colorado on track to become one of the ten safest states in the nation, and this legislation today will improve public safety and reduce gun violence. I thank the sponsors of the bill for bringing this common sense legislation to my desk,” he added.
With reporting from Trends Wide’s Jennifer Henderson
