Colorado Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Applaud the Colorado Legislature for Passing Proactive Gun Safety Measures to Reduce Gun-Related Crimes and to Prohibit the Carrying of Firearms in Sensitive Locations

DENVER — Today, Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots network, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statements applauding the Colorado legislature for fully passing Senate Bill 24-003, legislation to require the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigate attempted illegal firearm purchases, and Senate Bill 24-131, legislation to prohibit the carrying of firearms in sensitive spaces, including polling places and all schools, including daycares, K-12 schools, and universities. These policies now head to Governor Jared Polis’ desk to be signed into law. 

“Gun violence is a public health crisis in Colorado, and we must tackle it by applying multifaceted strategies regarding access to firearms, illegal use, and firearm culture,” said Carol Callicotte-Belmon, a volunteer with the Colorado chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Requiring CBI to investigate illegal firearm activity is a critical way to reduce gun crimes and crucial for violence prevention by law enforcement. Passing this measure is a critical step for safety in Colorado.”

 “I, along with other Students Demand Action volunteers, made our voices heard testifying in support of these bills because we know how much our lives depend on it,” said Gracie Taub, a volunteer leader with Denver East Students Demand Action chapter. “We know how dangerous it is to have guns in our schools and we are grateful to the Colorado legislature for listening to our pleas to remove guns from these sensitive locations. Prevention is also at the heart of this movement, so it’s a relief to see our lawmakers continue to prioritize measures that will prevent gun violence. We won’t go back to accepting this crisis as the norm. We’ll keep fighting until our communities can live free from this crisis.”

This legislative session, the Colorado legislature has made impressive strides in championing policies to prevent gun violence. In addition to passing SB24-003 and SB24-131, the legislature has also fully passed House Bill 24-1174, legislation to expand training requirements for permits to carry concealed handguns in Colorado, and SB24-066, first of its kind legislation to require credit card companies and other financial institutions that process payments to develop a code specifically for the purchase of firearms and related products. All four bills await signing by Governor Polis.

Additionally, this session Colorado is also considering five additional gun safety bills. 

• House Bill 24-1270, a firearm insurance bill, which would require all gun owners to obtain liability insurance, was voted out of the Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs and now heads to the Senate floor. This bill would be the first of its kind state-level law in the nation and was passed by the Colorado House last week.
• House Bill 24-1353, critical legislation to require retail firearm dealers to obtain a state permit to sell firearms in Colorado was also voted out of the House on Friday and now heads to the Senate Finance Committee. This bill will require firearm dealers and employees to undergo background checks and receive training.
• Legislation to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and transfer of assault weapons, House Bill 24-1292, which was assigned to the Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee last week, and 
• House Bill 24-1348, legislation to require secure storage of firearms in cars.

In an average year, 930 people die and 466 are wounded by guns in Colorado. Guns are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Colorado, and an average of 79 children and teens die by guns every year, of which 51% are suicides and 45% are homicides. More information about gun violence in Colorado is available here.

To speak with a volunteer from Moms Demand Action or Students Demand Action, or a policy expert from Everytown, please reach out to [email protected].