Shots for Freedom: Colorado gun owners rally to push back against new restrictions

By Huey Laugesen | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

At a time when Colorado is at the forefront of the national war over the Second Amendment, it’s not enough to be indignant. We must be active.

That’s why the Colorado State Shooting Association (CSSA) is proud to host the Shots for Freedom Range Weekend and Banquet, taking place in Colorado Springs September 20–21 at Magnum Shooting Center South. It’s more than just a celebration of firearm culture. It’s a strategic stand for freedom.

The weekend kicks off with a two-day range event, featuring leading firearm industry vendors from across the country. From machine gun and other firearm rentals, to top-tier manufactures, events for kids, and premium gun raffles, it’ll be an unforgettable time for Second Amendment supporters of every stripe. When we’re done at the range on Saturday, we’ll gather at the DoubleTree for good food, auctions, inspiring speakers, and you guessed it, more gun raffles.

This event will be a ton of fun. But it’s not just for show. Every dollar raised goes directly to CSSA’s legal and electoral efforts to beat back the relentless assault on our rights by Colorado’s Bloomberg-bought legislature.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Anti-gun billionaires like Michael Bloomberg have had their fun in California and New York. And now it’s clear they’ve picked Colorado as their favorite new testing ground for the most aggressive anti-gun policies this country has ever seen.

Our legislature has already passed magazine bans, waiting periods, and a ban on firearms and ammo sales to law-abiding adults under 21. They’ve imposed a 6.5% excise tax on all firearms, ammo, and parts — an explicit punishment for exercising your rights. And now under Senate Bill 25-003, Polis’s new permit-to-purchase firearms regime, Coloradans will be required to submit their names to a registry and ask for the government’s permission to purchase a common firearm.

These aren’t just misguided policies. They’re flagrant constitutional violations. That’s why CSSA has filed suit in Langston v. Humphreys to challenge the guns and ammo excise tax. We’re joined by the NRA, Firearms Policy Coalition, Second Amendment Foundation, and Magnum Shooting Center. We’ve also partnered with Mountain States Legal Foundation to take on the permit-to-purchase scheme.

And while we fight in court, we’re preparing to fight at the ballot box too. Our 2026 campaign will be the most aggressive pro-gun ground game this state has seen in years. We’re targeting competitive legislative districts, identifying anti-gun politicians who are vulnerable, and mobilizing gun owners — especially the millions who’ve stayed home on Election Day in the past — to vote for their rights.

Colorado is no longer just following the lead of coastal anti-gun states. We’re now at the head of the pack. That means what happens here matters for the rest of the country. If the anti-gun machine succeeds in Colorado, they’ll replicate their strategy in every other state that still respects the Second Amendment.

That’s why national firearms companies are coming to Shots for Freedom. They’re not just selling products. They’re fighting back with us. Because they know that a threat to freedom here is a threat to freedom everywhere.

We can’t afford to lose. And we won’t — if we stand together.

So join us. Come out to the range. Come break bread with fellow patriots. And most importantly, come support the fight that will determine the future of our rights — not just in Colorado, but across the country.

Huey Laugesen is the executive director of the Colorado State Shooting Association (CSSA). Learn more at CSSA.org/Events.

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.