Colorado’s sweeping new unconstitutional gun ban, simply signed by Democrat Gov. Jared Polis on April 10, is already turning into the topic of scrutiny on the federal stage.
For some background, the brand new regulation, which can take impact in August 2026, bans the sale of the most well-liked promoting rifle in America—the Fashionable Sporting Rifle (MSR)—until Coloradans acquire from their county sheriff approval, based mostly on subjective standards, a permit-to-purchase semi-automatic firearms able to accepting removable magazines.
Underneath the regulation, the sale of semi-automatic firearms able to accepting a removable journal will likely be banned until these buying the firearms are vetted by an area sheriff and full a firearm certification course. Sheriff approval to use for a permit-to-purchase relies on subjective standards, which was expressly rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court docket within the 2022 Bruen choice.
Moreover, county sheriffs can deny an software if they’ve a “affordable perception that documented earlier habits by the applicant makes it seemingly the applicant will current a hazard to themself or others.”
On Wednesday, state Home Republicans despatched a letter to U.S. Lawyer Pam Bondi asking for her newly created Second Modification Enforcement Job Drive to look into the brand new regulation, which they think about unconstitutional below the Second Modification.
“When state leaders ignore constitutional issues and refuse to even permit a decision requesting judicial assessment, federal oversight turns into not solely applicable, however completely needed,” State Rep. Ryan Armagost mentioned at a information convention saying the motion.
As we reported not too long ago, many county sheriffs within the state proceed to oppose the laws. And a few have been current at Wednesday’s press convention saying the request for a federal assessment.
“We’ve to do something and all the pieces we are able to to search out out if there’s a option to overturn this,” mentioned Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams. “If we actually wish to give attention to stopping crime, we have to give attention to find out how to maintain criminals accountable and maintain them in jail and jail longer for the crimes that they commit.”
AG Bondi’s Second Modification Enforcement Job Drive was fashioned in response to President Donald Trump’s February 7 government order directing her to root out unconstitutional legal guidelines and guidelines on firearms and roll them again to guard the Second Modification rights of all People.
“For too lengthy, the Second Modification, which establishes the basic particular person proper of People to maintain and bear arms, has been handled as a second-class proper,” Bondi mentioned in saying the duty drive. “No extra. It’s the coverage of this Division of Justice to make use of its full may to guard the Second Modification rights of law-abiding residents.”
Whether or not Bondi will assessment the brand new Colorado regulation stays unsure. What is for certain, nevertheless, is that the brand new regulation will face quite a few court docket challenges sooner or later.
