Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: gun control

Gun rights and Phil Weiser: an answer that stops at Heller
Colorado Accountability Project, Approved, Commentary, State

Gun rights and Phil Weiser: an answer that stops at Heller

By Cory Gaines | Commentary, Colorado Accountability Project Does current Attorney General (and candidate for governor) Phil Weiser know there’s been more gun control decisions past Heller? After reading about a curious statement AG Weiser made during the 8/27 gubernatorial debate. That debate in full is linked below. The remarks I reference relate to gun control and begin at about the 52:40 mark in the video when candidate Weiser was asked (quoting from the transcript): “Any laws the legislature has passed you disagree with, and does the state need to go further?” Candidate Weiser goes on to equivocate for some time before pausing and allowing one of the moderators to come back with a follow up, get an actual answer to the question. “And I’ll give you 30 seconds,...
Three federal cases test whether Colorado treats gun rights as policy or as a limit on government
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, State, Top Stories

Three federal cases test whether Colorado treats gun rights as policy or as a limit on government

By C. J. Garbo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Colorado has spent more than a generation treating the Second Amendment as a public-policy question. That is the first mistake. The Bill of Rights does not identify subjects upon which government may act whenever legislators believe their intentions are sufficiently benevolent. It identifies areas in which governmental power is constrained. The distinction is fundamental. A constitutional right does not exist at the pleasure of a legislative majority, nor does its force rise and fall with polling, tragedy, political fashion, or the confidence of public officials in their own judgment. This is particularly important when discussing firearms because the Second Amendment was never merely an eighteenth-century hunting prov...
Colorado’s New Semiautomatic Firearm Law Takes Effect Aug. 1
The Denver Gazette, Approved, State

Colorado’s New Semiautomatic Firearm Law Takes Effect Aug. 1

By Marissa Ventrelli | The Denver Gazette A Colorado law passed in 2025 established new requirements for individuals planning to purchase semiautomatic weapons. Here’s what residents should know before Senate Bill 003 goes into effect on Aug. 1. From a ban to a training course For decades, advocates have been pushing for a ban on semiautomatic weapons with detachable magazines, which they have described as “assault weapons,” though efforts escalated following the Columbine High School shooting in 1999. After the 2012 movie theater shooting in Aurora, the Colorado legislature passed House Bill 1224, which prohibited the sale, transfer and possession of ammunition magazines capable of holding more than 15 rounds. However, some advocates wanted mor...
How a youth trap shooting story became a debate over gun policy
Colorado Accountability Project, Approved, Commentary, State

How a youth trap shooting story became a debate over gun policy

By Cory Gaines | Commentary, Colorado Accountability Project The Colorado Sun article linked first below is nominally about high school kids, trap shooting, and teaching young ones how to be responsible around guns. The subhead illustrates pretty well: “Schools in mostly rural counties are building high school shooting teams that teach kids discipline, focus, camaraderie — and most important, how to handle a gun safely.” Perfectly fine topic. I like the topic, and I like that the Sun is looking outside the metro area to bring interesting stories back to that region, something that they do regularly if I’m going to be fair to them. If the Sun reporter stayed with the topic of the subhead, if she had focused on what is an unusual sport and how it’s helping youngsters...
Media Revives Gun Show Loophole Myth After DOJ Rule Changes
The Truth About Guns, Approved, National

Media Revives Gun Show Loophole Myth After DOJ Rule Changes

By Mark Chesnut | The Truth About Guns Gun-ban groups and anti-gun media outlets are still screeching about the landmark rulemaking package recently announced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The rulemaking package includes 34 policy changes that will, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), significantly change how the DOJ and ATF protect Second Amendment rights and regulate the firearm industry. All the changes resulted from the review ordered by President Trump in his executive order issued in February 2025, shortly after he took office. Notably, the final rules rescind the “stabilizing brace” and “engaged in the business” rules. Blanche also provided summary insights into proposed rules, including upda...
“Hell No”: Denver Mayor Refuses To Yield On Assault Weapons Restrictions
CBS Colorado, Approved, Local

“Hell No”: Denver Mayor Refuses To Yield On Assault Weapons Restrictions

By Chierstin Roth | CBS Colorado Denver Mayor Mike Johnston didn't mince words in response to a letter sent last week from the Department of Justice threatening to sue unless the city stops enforcing its so-called ban on "assault weapons." "We're here today to let them know that our answer is 'Hell no,'" said Johnston. "There are too many Coloradans we've had to say goodbye to in too many places because of the impact of assault weapons," he added. Since 1989, city ordinance has made it a crime to carry, store, keep, manufacture, or sell these weapons. Included in the city's definition of an assault weapon is a semiautomatic pistol or rifle with the feeding device capacity of more than 15 rounds, but it's not an outright ban of these types of guns. ...
Trump DOJ Challenges Denver Over Longstanding Assault Weapons Ban
The Gazette, Approved, Local

Trump DOJ Challenges Denver Over Longstanding Assault Weapons Ban

By Deborah Grigsby | The Gazette Denver officials have rejected a U.S. Department of Justice demand that they repeal the city’s longstanding ban on assault weapons. “Our answer is hell no,” Mayor Mike Johnston told members of the press along with public safety leaders gathered at City Hall on Monday. “No, we will not roll back a common-sense policy that has kept weapons of war off of these city streets for 37 years. No, we will not put first responders at greater risk every time they respond to a dangerous incident. No, we will not go back to a time when folks are worried about walking into movie theaters, grocery stores, or public elementary schools.” “Our answer is hell no,” Johnston told members of the press. The demand, which arrived in the form of a ...
Second Amendment Debate Reignites as Colorado Expands Gun Regulations
TownHall.com, Approved, State

Second Amendment Debate Reignites as Colorado Expands Gun Regulations

By Tom Knighton | Townhall Because the Second Amendment protects the right to both keep and bear arms, there's a third thing implied. You can't keep or bear guns if you're unable to acquire them in some manner. In Colorado, where they've been attacking building firearms at home, they're also going after the gun stores with new rules. You see, it's not enough to have mountains of regulations that everyone has to follow. Colorado also wants to make it even more difficult for them to stay open The Colorado Senate on Tuesday gave final approval to a bill adding more regulations to gun stores operating in the state. House Bill 26-1126, titled “Requirements for Firearms Dealers,” was approved on its third reading in a 20 to 15 vote, sending it to Gov. Jar...
Colorado Democrats Advance Broad Package of New Gun Regulations
Complete Colorado, Approved, State

Colorado Democrats Advance Broad Package of New Gun Regulations

By: Savana Kascak | Complete Colorado DENVER–A series of gun rights restrictions are at various stages in the Colorado’s legislative process, with some bills awaiting action by Gov. Polis, others still in the committee process, and a heavily negotiated gun barrel regulation bill held up in its final reading in the House.   Red flag expansion Senate Bill 26-004 ‘Expand List of Petitioners for Protection Orders’ passed third reading in the House on March 20 with a 39-24 vote and is awaiting action by Gov. Polis.     The Democrat sponsored bill dramatically expands those eligible to file for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) under Colorado’s so-called ‘red flag’ law, to include teachers, health care providers and “institutional petitioners.’ I...
Colorado Democrats’ Gun Control Agenda Has Failed. HB26-1021 Is the Reset We Need
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, State, Top Stories

Colorado Democrats’ Gun Control Agenda Has Failed. HB26-1021 Is the Reset We Need

By Reps. Brandi Bradley and Max Brooks | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Editor’s update: House Bill 26-1021 will be heard in the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, upon adjournment in HCR 0107. The committee is scheduled between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Readers may listen live here: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00327/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20260217/29/17994#info_ For more than a decade, Colorado Democrats have treated gun control as a political obsession. Not because it works. Not because it reduces crime. But because it expands government control and satisfies national activist donors. Meanwhile, crime has increased, communities feel less safe, and the only people consistently punished are those who follow the law. Hous...