Senate Bill 25-003 is one of the first bills that was introduced to the Colorado Senate in 2025.

On Wednesday, lawmakers and lobbyists returned to the Colorado State Capitol for the start of the legislative session 2025. Senate Democrats introduced a bill that they believe will save many lives. However, it is likely to be opposed by opponents.

Senate Bill 25-003 bans the sale, purchase, manufacture, distribution or transfer of “specified semiautomatic weapons” which include semiautomatic shotguns and rifles as well as gas-operated, semiautomatic handguns with a removable ammunition magazine.

According to the bill, semiautomatic guns with detachable magazines could still be passed on to an heir or someone from another state.

1776 Coalition Sponsored Will you join Elon, Vivek and Me? I want gov’t to work for the people, so I joined the DOGE Caucus. Now that Deep State, Establishment & Liberal spenders have a target on me. Fortunately, I’ve got allies like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy working with me in this mission. This is LTGen Jack Bergman. Please join me in the fight to make gov’t accountable to the citizens..

In the event that the bill becomes law, violations will be treated as misdemeanors. The second offense is a felony.

SB25-003 prohibits possession of dangerous weapons, which includes rapid-fire devices.

Tom Sullivan of the State Senate, District 27, — D, stated that gun violence prevention is a top priority.

Sullivan sponsored the bill which he thinks targets illegal magazines with high capacity in Colorado. A 2013 state statute banned the sale detachable magazines with more than 15 rounds.

After 12 people were murdered in a mass shooting that took place at a movie theater in Aurora, the ban on magazines carrying more than 15 cartridges was implemented. Sullivan’s own son was among the victims.

“I let people know,” Sullivan said. “I don’t want people at the Capitol to forget… this is the 650th anniversary of his murder, and I made sure they knew that.”

Sullivan stated that even though magazines with more 15 rounds are prohibited in Colorado, they are still too readily available.

Sullivan said that the gun industry sent high-capacity magazine here to Colorado even though it was illegal for anyone to buy them anymore. “We haven’t gotten buy-in from the opposition, you know, even though our courts say this is illegal and you can’t buy a brand-new high-capacity mag.”

Sullivan said that the bill would be a completely new model for Colorado, one that has never been done by any other state before.

“We are not banning any kind of firearm. The same types of firearms will still be available to them. “If it’s a magazine that is required, then the magazine must also be attached and can only hold 15 rounds,” explained Sullivan. “High-capacity magazines are what have put the mass in mass shootings. It’s easy to put in another magazine after dropping the first one.

According to Sullivan’s statement, firearms already sold in Colorado that have detachable magazine would be grandfathered, which means the ban will only apply to guns purchased in Colorado after the law became law.

Already, there is backlash against the bill.

Ian Escalante, executive director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, is a lobbying group that focuses specifically on Second Amendment rights, especially when it comes the Colorado legislature, courts and elections. Escalante stated that one thing was clear after the first day in the 2025 legislative sessions: Democrats “are not messing around with the gun issue.”

The biggest difference between last year and this year is the fact that they don’t call it a ban on assault weapons. Escalante explained that they are trying to convince the public that this is something different than what they have been pushing the past two years, but in reality it is a few steps more extreme. “The manufacturers would need to redesign the firearm completely.” Okay? This is going to drive the retail or wholesale price sky-high.”

According to the bill text, if it is passed, this ban will take effect on 1 September 2025. Escalante stated that this would not give gun retailers enough time to get firearms with fixed magazine.

Escalante said that there would be a massive freeze on guns in Colorado. It’s going to be very difficult for retail stores. By the time it becomes possible, or even if possible, there won’t be many retail outlets left.

Escalante estimates around 85% guns sold in Colorado come with detachable magazine. He said that this bill along with the new 6.5% excise taxes on gun retailers, manufacturers and ammunition suppliers, as well as the newly approved by voters, would be crippling for the industry.

It’s just common sense. What do you expect to happen with the firearms industry in this country? It’s deliberate. This is not an accident. Escalante said, “This is deliberate.” It’s not the enforcement of what is called the high-capacity magazines ban. It’s about taking firearms off of the street, limiting the number of people who buy firearms in Colorado and driving the pro-gun industry and voting base out of the state.

Escalante said that RMGO will fight this bill when it passes through the Colorado State Capitol.

Sullivan wants SB 25-003 to be in committee within the next couple of weeks, and he hopes it will reach the Senate floor before February. Then it can move to the Colorado House of Representatives.