Ban on Assault Weapons’ Sale Bill Cleared from Colorado House, Fate Looms in State Senate
Denver, CO: A bill to outlaw the sale and purchase of so-called assault weapons in Colorado was approved by the House of Representatives.
After passing a third reading in the chamber controlled by Democrats (35–27), House Bill 24–1292, which is also controlled by Democrats in the Senate, will now be considered. The support it will receive in the upper chamber is uncertain.
A .50 caliber rifle, a semiautomatic rifle or pistol with a removable magazine (or one that can be modified to have one), or a semiautomatic rifle or pistol with a fixed, large-capacity magazine are all considered assault weapons according to the legislation.
“We need a federal [assault weapons] ban, but we’re not going to wait for the federal government to save us anymore then we have to.”
Rep. Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver, said. She is one of the bill sponsors.
The House Judiciary Committee rejected a measure that was quite similar to this one last session, which was also introduced by Epps.
The ban would cripple the state’s firearm market and cover 80% of current firearms, said Rep. Ryan Armagost (R-Berthoud).
The measure will next be considered by the Senate, where its chances of passing and reaching the desk of Governor Jared Polis are uncertain.
Despite the Democrats’ 23-12 advantage, the Senate is widely seen as significantly more moderate than the House. Denver Democrat Sen. Julie Gonzales has agreed to attempt to steer the proposal ahead, giving the measure a primary sponsor in the Senate for the first time.
Reference: The Colorado Sun
