Colorado’s new law requiring eligibility cards for semiautomatic firearm purchases marks a significant shift in the state’s gun control strategy, though its implementation remains years away and faces potential legal challenges.
Key Insights
- Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed legislation requiring special eligibility cards for purchasing certain semi automatic firearms, effective August 1, 2026.
- The law mandates background checks and up to 12 hours of training before citizens can purchase weapons like AR-15s and AK-style rifles.
- Shotguns, common hunting rifles, and most handguns are exempt from the new restrictions.
- Gun rights organizations including the Colorado State Shooting Association and Rocky Mountain Gun Owners are exploring legal challenges to the law.
- The law does not affect current owners of semi automatic firearms.
New Eligibility Requirements for Semiautomatic Weapons
Governor Jared Polis recently signed into law a bill establishing new requirements for Coloradans seeking to purchase certain semi automatic firearms. The legislation, which takes effect on August 1, 2026, requires prospective buyers of semiautomatic weapons with detachable magazines to obtain an “eligibility card” from their county sheriff. The process involves comprehensive background checks and completion of firearms safety training – potentially up to 12 hours for new gun owners or 4 hours for those who have completed hunters’ safety training.
The law specifically targets semiautomatic firearms with detachable magazines, including AR-15 and AK-style rifles. Notably, the legislation explicitly exempts shotguns, traditional hunting rifles, and most handguns from these new restrictions. Current owners of affected firearms will not need to obtain eligibility cards for weapons they already possess, as the law applies only to new purchases after the implementation date.
“This isn’t about safety — it’s about control.” — @MrColionNoir slams Colorado’s new gun law as a power grab, not protection. https://t.co/nqNss0tmls
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) April 14, 2025
Evolution of the Legislation
The bill underwent significant modifications during the legislative process. Initially proposed as an outright ban on assault-style weapons, lawmakers amended the legislation to instead create a pathway for legal ownership through enhanced vetting and training. The compromise reflects the politically complicated nature of gun legislation in Colorado, a state with both urban population centers and strong rural hunting traditions.
State Representative Tom Sullivan, who lost his son in the 2012 Aurora theater shooting, sponsored the bill and has been instrumental in passing nearly two dozen gun control measures since 2019. The legislation also outlaws rapid-fire conversion devices like bump stocks and requires that the names of eligible individuals be entered into a state database for purchasing regulated firearms after additional background checks.
Opposition and Potential Legal Challenges
Gun rights advocates have voiced strong opposition to the new law. The Colorado State Shooting Association and Rocky Mountain Gun Owners have announced intentions to explore legal challenges, arguing that the law creates financial barriers to exercising Second Amendment rights. Critics contend that the training requirements, which could cost up to $200 according to initial estimates, effectively price lower-income citizens out of gun ownership.
The Colorado Sun has reported that the process will mirror Illinois’ Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card system. Opponents argue that while the law creates hurdles for law-abiding citizens, it does nothing to prevent criminals from acquiring banned firearms through illegal channels. Huey Laugesen with the Colorado State Shooting Association described the bill as a “rallying cry” for gun rights supporters, indicating that opposition to the measure will continue.
Implementation Considerations
With the effective date more than two years away, state officials have time to develop systems for processing eligibility card applications and establish training standards. Governor Polis has indicated interest in exploring financial assistance options to keep training costs affordable. The training curriculum must cover firearms deaths related to mental illness, Colorado’s red flag law, and victim awareness in addition to basic safety instruction.
Federal law prevents Colorado residents from bypassing these restrictions by purchasing regulated firearms in other states, as out-of-state dealers must comply with home-state regulations for transfers. The state also passed companion legislation to improve response to mass shootings, with the Division of Criminal Justice directed to seek federal or other grant funding to support victim services.
Sources:
Polis signs watered-down semiautomatic gun restriction bill into law
Colorado now has one of the most restrictive gun laws in the country
Colorado to Require ‘Eligibility Card’ for Would-Be AR-15 Purchasers
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