A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning prohibited activity involving semiautomatic
Page 1, Line 102firearms, and, in connection therewith, prohibiting the
Page 1, Line 103manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale, and purchase
Page 1, Line 104of specified semiautomatic firearms and classifying a
Page 1, Line 105device that increases the rate of fire of a
Page 1, Line 106semiautomatic firearm as a dangerous weapon.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill defines a "specified semiautomatic firearm" as a semiautomatic rifle or semiautomatic shotgun with a detachable magazine or a gas-operated semiautomatic handgun with a detachable magazine. The bill prohibits knowingly manufacturing, distributing, transferring, selling, or purchasing a specified semiautomatic firearm; except that a person may transfer a specified semiautomatic firearm to an heir, an individual residing in another state, or a federally licensed firearm dealer.
Unlawful manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale, or purchase of a specified semiautomatic firearm is a class 2 misdemeanor; except that a second or subsequent offense is a class 6 felony. The department of revenue shall revoke the state firearms dealer permit of a dealer who unlawfully manufactures, distributes, transfers, sells, or purchases a specified semiautomatic firearm. The Colorado bureau of investigation shall deny the transfer of a firearm to a person who was convicted of misdemeanor unlawful manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale, or purchase of a specified semiautomatic firearm within 5 years prior to the transfer. A person convicted of felony unlawful manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale, or purchase of a specified semiautomatic firearm is prohibited from possessing a firearm or certain other weapons.
Existing law prohibits possession of a dangerous weapon. The bill defines "rapid-fire device" and classifies rapid-fire devices as dangerous weapons under Colorado law. The bill repeals the definition of "machine gun conversion device" and removes machine gun conversion devices from the list of dangerous weapons.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-12-101, repeal (1)(g.2); and add (1)(g.7) and (1)(g.8) as follows:
Page 2, Line 318-12-101. Peace officer affirmative defense - definitions. (1) As used in this article 12, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 2, Line 4(g.2)
"Machine gun conversion device" means any part designedPage 2, Line 5
or intended, or combination of parts designed or intended, for use in converting a firearm into a machine gun.Page 2, Line 6(g.7) "Rapid-fire device" means any device, part, kit, tool,
Page 2, Line 7accessory, or combination of parts that has the effect of
Page 2, Line 8increasing the rate of fire of a semiautomatic firearm above the
Page 2, Line 9standard rate of fire for the semiautomatic firearm that is not
Page 3, Line 1otherwise equipped with that device, part, or combination of parts.
Page 3, Line 2(g.8) "Semiautomatic firearm" means a firearm that is not
Page 3, Line 3a machine gun and that, upon initiating the firing sequence, fires
Page 3, Line 4the first chambered cartridge and uses a portion of the energy
Page 3, Line 5of the firing cartridge to extract the expended cartridge case,
Page 3, Line 6chamber the next round, and prepare the firing mechanism to
Page 3, Line 7fire again, and requires a separate pull, release, push, or
Page 3, Line 8initiation of the trigger to fire each cartridge. "Semiautomatic
Page 3, Line 9firearm" includes a semiautomatic rifle, semiautomatic shotgun, or semiautomatic handgun.
Page 3, Line 10SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 18-12-116 as follows:
Page 3, Line 1118-12-116. Enforcement of large-capacity magazine ban by
Page 3, Line 12regulating the manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale, and purchase
Page 3, Line 13of specified semiautomatic firearms - penalties - definitions. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 3, Line 14(a) "Cycle the action" means to extract the fired
Page 3, Line 15cartridge case, chamber the next cartridge, and prepare the firing mechanism to fire again.
Page 3, Line 16(b) "Detachable magazine" means an ammunition feeding
Page 3, Line 17device that is not permanently attached to a firearm and may be
Page 3, Line 18removed from the firearm without rendering the firearm incapable of accepting any magazine.
Page 3, Line 19(c) "Gas-operated semiautomatic handgun" means any
Page 3, Line 20semiautomatic handgun that harnesses or traps a portion of the
Page 3, Line 21high-pressure gas from a fired cartridge to cycle the action using any of the following:
Page 4, Line 1(I) A long-stroke piston system in which gas is vented from
Page 4, Line 2the barrel to a piston that is mechanically fixed to the bolt group and moves to cycle the action;
Page 4, Line 3(II) A short-stroke piston system in which gas is vented
Page 4, Line 4from the barrel to a piston that moves separately from the bolt
Page 4, Line 5group so that the energy is imparted through a gas piston to cycle the action;
Page 4, Line 6(III) A system that traps and vents gas from either the
Page 4, Line 7barrel or the chamber to directly strike or impinge the bolt, bolt carrier, or slide assembly, to unlock and cycle the action;
Page 4, Line 8(IV) A hybrid system that combines elements of a system
Page 4, Line 9described in subsection (1)(c)(I) of this section with a system
Page 4, Line 10described in subsection (1)(c)(II) or (1)(c)(III) of this section to capture gas vented from the barrel to cycle the action; or
Page 4, Line 11(V) A blowback-operated system that directly utilizes
Page 4, Line 12the expanding gasses of the ignited propellant powder acting on
Page 4, Line 13the cartridge case to drive the breechblock or breech bolt rearward.
Page 4, Line 14(d) (I) "Specified semiautomatic firearm" means any of the
Page 4, Line 15following, except as provided in subsection (1)(d)(II) of this section:
Page 4, Line 16(A) A semiautomatic rifle or semiautomatic shotgun with a detachable magazine; or
Page 4, Line 17(B) A gas-operated semiautomatic handgun with a detachable magazine.
Page 4, Line 18(II) "Specified semiautomatic firearm" does not include:
Page 5, Line 1(A) A firearm designed to accept, and capable of
Page 5, Line 2operating only with, .22 or lower caliber rimfire ammunition, unless the firearm has a separate upper and lower receiver;
Page 5, Line 3(B) A firearm that is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action;
Page 5, Line 4(C) A firearm that has a permanently fixed magazine that cannot accept more than fifteen rounds of ammunition;
Page 5, Line 5(D) A single or double action semiautomatic handgun that uses recoil to cycle the action of the handgun;
Page 5, Line 6(E) A firearm that has been made permanently inoperable; or
Page 5, Line 7(F) An antique firearm as defined in 18 U.S.C. sec. 921 (a)(16).
Page 5, Line 8(2) On or after September 1, 2025, it is unlawful for any
Page 5, Line 9person to knowingly manufacture, distribute, transfer, sell, or
Page 5, Line 10purchase a specified semiautomatic firearm; except that a person
Page 5, Line 11may sell or transfer a specified semiautomatic firearm to an
Page 5, Line 12heir, an individual residing in another state, or a federally licensed firearm dealer.
Page 5, Line 13(3) This section does not apply to:
Page 5, Line 14(a) The manufacture, transfer, or sale of a specified
Page 5, Line 15semiautomatic firearm to, or receipt or purchase of a specified semiautomatic firearm by:
Page 5, Line 16(I) A federal, state, or local law enforcement agency for the purpose of equipping the agency's peace officers;
Page 5, Line 17(II) The department of corrections, the warden of a
Page 5, Line 18prison, the superintendent of a facility in which a person has
Page 6, Line 1been placed by transfer from a correctional facility pursuant
Page 6, Line 2to section 17-23-101, the keeper of a jail, or the head of any
Page 6, Line 3other institution for the detention of people accused or
Page 6, Line 4convicted of an offense, in order to equip staff for the performance of their official duties; or
Page 6, Line 5(III) An entity that operates an armored vehicle business
Page 6, Line 6for use by an authorized employee of the entity while in the course and scope of the employee's duties;
Page 6, Line 7(b) The manufacture, transfer, or sale of a specified
Page 6, Line 8semiautomatic firearm to, or receipt or purchase of a specified
Page 6, Line 9semiautomatic firearm for use by, members of the armed services
Page 6, Line 10or reserve forces of the United States or of the Colorado National Guard, in the performance of their official duties;
Page 6, Line 11(c) The transfer of a specified semiautomatic firearm to, and receipt of a specified semiautomatic firearm by:
Page 6, Line 12(I) A federally licensed firearms dealer for temporary storage or permanent disposal; or
Page 6, Line 13(II) A gunsmith for the purposes of maintenance, repair, or
Page 6, Line 14modification and the subsequent return of the specified
Page 6, Line 15semiautomatic firearm to the lawful owner, as long as the
Page 6, Line 16lawful owner is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the specified semiautomatic firearm; and
Page 6, Line 17(d) The transfer or sale of a specified semiautomatic
Page 6, Line 18firearm to, and receipt or purchase of a specified semiautomatic firearm by:
Page 6, Line 19(I) A federal, state, or local historical society, museum,
Page 6, Line 20or institutional collection that is open to the public, if the
Page 7, Line 1specified semiautomatic firearm is rendered permanently inoperable prior to the sale or transfer; and
Page 7, Line 2(II) A forensic laboratory, or any authorized agent or
Page 7, Line 3employee of the laboratory, for use exclusively in the course and scope of forensic analysis.
Page 7, Line 4(4) (a) A person who violates this section commits
Page 7, Line 5unlawful manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale, or purchase of a specified semiautomatic firearm.
Page 7, Line 6(b) Unlawful manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale,
Page 7, Line 7or purchase of a specified semiautomatic firearm is a class 2
Page 7, Line 8misdemeanor; except that a second or subsequent offense is a class 6 felony.
Page 7, Line 9SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-12-108, amend (7)(hhh) and (7)(iii); and add (7)(jjj) as follows:
Page 7, Line 1018-12-108. Possession of weapons by previous offenders. (7) In
Page 7, Line 11addition to a conviction for felony crime as defined in section 24-4.1-302
Page 7, Line 12(1), a felony conviction or adjudication for one of the following felonies
Page 7, Line 13prohibits a person from possessing, using, or carrying upon the person a
Page 7, Line 14firearm as defined in section 18-1-901 (3)(h) or any other weapon that is subject to this article 12 pursuant to subsection (1) or (3) of this section:
Page 7, Line 15(hhh) A criminal attempt, complicity, or conspiracy to commit any of the offenses listed in this subsection (7);
andPage 7, Line 16(iii) Unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver, as described in section 18-12-111.5; and
Page 7, Line 17(jjj) Unlawful manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale,
Page 7, Line 18or purchase of a specified semiautomatic firearm, as described in
Page 7, Line 19section 18-12-116.
Page 8, Line 1SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-424, amend (3)(b.3)(XI) and (3)(b.3)(XII); and add (3)(b.3)(XIII) as follows:
Page 8, Line 224-33.5-424. National instant criminal background check
Page 8, Line 3system - state point of contact - fee - grounds for denial of firearm
Page 8, Line 4transfer - appeal - rule-making - unlawful acts - instant criminal
Page 8, Line 5background check cash fund - creation. (3) (b.3) In addition to the
Page 8, Line 6grounds for denial specified in subsections (3)(a) and (3)(b) of this
Page 8, Line 7section, the bureau shall deny a transfer of a firearm if the prospective
Page 8, Line 8transferee has been convicted of any of the following offenses committed
Page 8, Line 9on or after June 19, 2021, if the offense is classified as a misdemeanor,
Page 8, Line 10or if the prospective transferee has been convicted in another state or
Page 8, Line 11jurisdiction, including a military or federal jurisdiction, of an offense that,
Page 8, Line 12if committed in Colorado, would constitute any of the following offenses
Page 8, Line 13classified as a misdemeanor offense, within five years prior to the transfer:
Page 8, Line 14(XI) Unlawfully providing a firearm other than a handgun to a juvenile, as described in section 18-12-108.7 (3);
orPage 8, Line 15(XII) Unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver, as described in section 18-12-111.5; or
Page 8, Line 16(XIII) Unlawful manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale,
Page 8, Line 17or purchase of a specified semiautomatic firearm, as described in section 18-12-116.
Page 8, Line 18SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-12-401.5, amend (8)(a)(IV)(D) and (8)(a)(IV)(E); and add (8)(a)(IV)(F) as follows:
Page 8, Line 1918-12-401.5. Permit required - issuing agency - cash fund -
Page 8, Line 20inspections - penalty - report - rules - repeal. (8) (a) Notwithstanding
Page 8, Line 21subsection (7) of this section, the department shall revoke a state permit if the state permit holder:
Page 9, Line 1(IV) Is convicted of any of the following:
Page 9, Line 2(D) Selling or otherwise transferring a firearm to a person who is ineligible to possess the firearm pursuant to state or federal law;
orPage 9, Line 3(E) Selling or otherwise transferring a firearm component or
Page 9, Line 4accessory, as defined in section 29-11.7-101.5, to another person in violation of federal, state, or local law; or
Page 9, Line 5(F) Manufacturing, distributing, transferring, selling, or
Page 9, Line 6purchasing a specified semiautomatic firearm in violation of section 18-12-116.
Page 9, Line 7SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-31-120 as follows:
Page 9, Line 824-31-120. List of prohibited weapons.The attorney general
Page 9, Line 9may provide guidance and clarification for law enforcement
Page 9, Line 10agencies and firearm buyers and sellers to assist in the
Page 9, Line 11implementation of section 18-12-116. The attorney general may
Page 9, Line 12publish guidance and opinions concerning section 18-12-116,
Page 9, Line 13including, but not limited to, opinions about the specific models of firearms to which section 18-12-116 (2) applies.
Page 9, Line 14SECTION 7. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-12-102, amend (1) as follows:
Page 9, Line 1518-12-102. Possessing a dangerous or illegal weapon -
Page 9, Line 16affirmative defense - definition. (1) As used in this section, the term
Page 9, Line 17"dangerous weapon" means a firearm silencer, machine gun,
machine gun conversion devicePage 9, Line 18SECTION 8. Effective date - applicability. This act takes effect
Page 9, Line 19September 1, 2025, and applies to offenses committed on or after said date.
Page 10, Line 1SECTION 9. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,
Page 10, Line 2determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
Page 10, Line 3preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for
Page 10, Line 4the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.