VICTORY FOR GUN SAFETY: Colorado Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Applauds Legislature for Passing Historic Number of Gun Safety Bills During the 2025 Legislative Session

Following Countless Hours Spent Testifying, Rallying, And Digital Campaign Efforts by Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Volunteers, Colorado Ends Session Passing Eight Critical Gun Safety Bills

DENVER – Today, as the Colorado legislature sine died their 2025 session, the Colorado chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statement applauding the Colorado legislature passing a historic number of eight gun violence prevention bills and defeated dangerous gun safety bills. The policies passed include SB3, an innovative first-of-its-kind gun violence prevention bill intended to help prevent mass shootings. 

“This session, Colorado lawmakers showed true leadership by passing a historic slate of gun safety laws, including SB3 — a first-of-its-kind policy to help prevent mass shootings and restrict access to military-style firearms,” said Kathy Hagen, a volunteer with the Colorado chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Colorado is setting a new standard for what’s possible on gun safety. We’re proud of our volunteers’ relentless advocacy and of lawmakers for standing strong in the face of senseless opposition. And we are incredibly grateful to the gun violence survivors who showed up time and time again to selflessly shared their stories in order to create change. Once again, Colorado is leading the way.”

“The influence young people had in advancing gun safety policies this session is undeniable,” said Carter Ferris, president with the Regis Jesuit High School Students Demand Action chapter. “We showed up, made our demands loud and clear, refused to take no for an answer and as a result, Colorado will now be safer from gun violence. Gen Z is here to play the long game until we can go about our normal lives without the fear of being shot.” 

SB 3 prohibits the purchase and sale of military-style semi-automatic firearms capable of accepting detachable magazines, unless the purchaser first obtains a permit and receives safety training, and will prohibit rapid-fire conversion devices in Colorado. Stemming the flow of military-style rifles and preventing mass shootings does not need to be a one-size-fits-all approach. The Colorado law is an innovative policy that demonstrates how states can follow several different strategies to keep weapons of war out of dangerous hands. Colorado’s law is unique in two ways: 

• It defines military-style firearms in a fundamentally different way from traditional “features test” laws. 
• This bill establishes a permit-to-purchase system to ensure prospective purchasers undergo a thorough background check and obtain specialized safety training. No other state has defined military-style firearms in this way, and no other state has a permit system exclusively for acquiring the most dangerous military-style firearms on the market. 

 In addition to SB3, Colorado lawmakers passed critical violence prevention policies including:

• HB 1133, legislation to regulate the sale of ammunition. This measure would help close those gaps by requiring ammunition to be sold at retail to purchasers 21 years of age or older and require that ammunition dealers follow basic safety measures to prevent the theft of ammunition by criminals. 
• SB 059, legislation to bolster the state’s response to mass shootings by facilitating state access of federal funds to support responses to shootings. Under the bill, the Division of Criminal Justice within the Department of Public Safety is required to apply for, accept and expend federal or other available grant money to improve the state’s response, including funding to support victim services.
• HB 1238, legislation to strengthen gun show dealer regulations by putting new restrictions on gun shows, including security and age requirements, as well as ensure that sellers are following the state’s three-day waiting period.
• SB 205, legislation to establish a standardized procedure for firearms dealers to request a serial number check prior to completing a firearm transfer to determine whether the firearm was reported lost or stolen or used in a crime.
• SB 158, legislation that creates a tool for the State to ensure it is using taxpayer funds to purchase only from responsible firearm vendors and to incentivize reform when necessary.
• HB 1250, legislation to require school districts to provide parents with information about safe gun storage.
• HB 1225, legislation to protect election workers and voters from political violence and intimidation.

Colorado lawmakers also rejected dangerous gun safety policies,  including:

• HB 1164, legislation to repeal the state 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 to carry in public.
• HB 1055, legislation to repeal 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. 

Colorado continues to be a leader in gun violence prevention. Colorado ranks 10th in gun law strength in the nation, rising from 11th after passing six gun safety bills during the 2024 legislative session, including in the last hours of the session passing a critical gun safety bill instituting a state dealer permitting system. Additionally, in November, Coloradans voted to pass a ballot initiative to create an excise tax on gun manufacturers and retailers in Colorado to be allocated for funding for mental health services, school safety measures, gun violence prevention programs, and support services for victims of violence. Colorado is the second state in the country to pass this type of policy. This session, Colorado lawmakers also passed legislation to regulate the sale of ammunition and legislation to strengthen the requirements for gun show operators in Colorado. 

Colorado’s progress on gun violence prevention has been contingent on the pipeline of Colorado Moms Demand Action volunteers running for office and leading on the issue the state legislature, including Senator Tom Sullivan and Froelich, the co-sponsors of SB3. In 2024 alone, 10 Moms Demand Action volunteers ran and won elected office seats in Colorado.

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. 
More information about gun violence in Colorado is available here.