Lawsuit and liberty on the line as Shots for Freedom launches in Colorado Springs

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice

With just days to go, Colorado gun owners are gearing up for Shots for Freedom — a two-day range weekend and banquet in Colorado Springs that organizers say is about more than rifles, raffles or fellowship. Hosted by the Colorado State Shooting Association, the September 20–21 event is tied directly to the fight against Governor Jared Polis’ new gun law.

Tickets are still available through the event signup page, with proceeds funding the group’s lawsuit against Governor Jared Polis’ recently signed permit-to-purchase law, Senate Bill 25-003.

Linking a celebration to a lawsuit

Organizers say the strategy is to combine culture and community with legal action. “Every round fired and every seat filled helps fund the lawsuit that will decide whether Colorado remains a place where citizens can exercise their rights without government permission slips,” CSSA President Ray Elliott stated.

The lawsuit, Del Toro v. Polis challenges the new system that requires sheriff approval, mandatory training courses and written tests before a Coloradan can legally purchase certain semiautomatic firearms. 

CSSA leaders call it “a government-controlled privilege that you must repeatedly pay for and beg for government permission to exercise.”

Plaintiffs put a human face on the fight

Six Coloradans and CSSA are named in the suit. Each says the law burdens ordinary, lawful purchases in different ways.

Israel Del Toro, a retired Senior Master Sergeant severely burned in Afghanistan, relies on stabilizing braces and specialized trigger devices to operate and control firearms. The law reclassifies some of that equipment as dangerous weapons and adds new hurdles for anything he may legally purchase going forward.

Kathleen Clayton, a domestic abuse survivor, carries a micro-compact semiautomatic handgun for protection and plans future lawful purchases. She says the permit-to-purchase regime forces her into months of red tape and new costs to exercise a basic right.

Luke Sorensen, 19, intends to buy his first semiautomatic firearm when he turns 21. By then, he says, he will face added fees, courses and testing before he can make a lawful purchase.

Nathanael Skiver, a firearms instructor, says he still has to take mandated courses and exams and expects the law to reduce training demand and his income even as it imposes new costs on him personally.

Jason Reeves, a veteran and former law enforcement officer with a top-secret clearance, owns rapid-fire devices the law newly classifies as dangerous weapons and says he plans future lawful purchases now restricted by the scheme.

Garrett Flicker, a CSSA board member who identifies as a gay Lebanese Jewish man, says targeted threats make self-defense non-negotiable but the law piles on fees, exams and renewals that stand in the way.

Colorado State Shooting Association is also a plaintiff, representing members affected by the statute’s new crimes and permit process.

Lawsuit in the spotlight

Coverage has stretched from national to local outlets, from Epoch Times, KOAA, KKTV, KRDO, KDVR, the Denver Gazette, the Colorado Sun to Colorado Politics.

Ray Elliott, CSSA president, told the Epoch Times, “A government that makes you ask permission to buy a firearm isn’t protecting your rights — it’s trampling them,” adding that he believes courts will see the law as “a blatant infringement of our Second Amendment freedoms.”

On Fox31, Elliott said the measure “won’t stop crime — it will only stop Coloradans from exercising their constitutional rights,” arguing Colorado already has background checks and waiting periods, and that SB25-003 adds “another hoop” for responsible buyers.

Denver7’s report walked through the new process step by step, quoting CSSA’s Daniel Fenlason on the time and cost burdens: “You’re talking about months to be able to get a firearm… you’ve already spent hundreds of dollars, if not more, just to get to that point.”

KRDO noted the law would require a firearms safety course every five years and a passing score of at least 90 percent before a permit can be issued.

The Colorado Sun summarized the legal theory behind the suit, saying the complaint argues the law governs arms-bearing conduct without a relevant historical analogue, which plaintiffs say violates the Second Amendment standard set by Bruen.

Named as a defendant alongside Polis and Weiser, 4th Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen called his inclusion in the case “misguided, ineffective and tantamount to speculative lawfare,” in a statement carried by KOAA.

What’s on tap at Shots for Freedom

The weekend will feature firearms from leading manufacturers, vendor displays, raffles and food trucks at the range, followed by a banquet at the DoubleTree in Colorado Springs. U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY), a leading critic of federal gun regulations, is listed among the speakers.

CSSA leaders say the range weekend carries a larger purpose. “This is more than a celebration of our Second Amendment culture. It’s a strategic stand for freedom.” 

From the range to the courtroom

Organizers say the weekend is a kickoff, not a finish line. Those planning to attend can register through the event signup page. Tickets range from $20 for general admission to $50 for upgraded entry and $100 for VIP access. All tickets cover both days at the range, with add-ons for machine gun rentals and raffle entries. A separate banquet ticket includes dinner, raffles and guest speakers, including U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman.