Colorado SB 25-003: A Misfire Aimed at Law-Abiding Gun Owners

Welcome to Colorado, where the mountains are tall, the beer flows freely, and the legislature has decided to take another crack at disarming its citizens under the banner of public safety. Colorado SB 25-003, lovingly titled by its creators as the "solution" to gun violence, is the latest legislative grenade lobbed at the Second Amendment. But before you fall for the melodrama, let’s dissect this with the sharp blade of skepticism.

The Skinny on Colorado SB 25-003

Colorado’s Senate Democrats, with all the subtlety of a bull in a gun shop, have introduced a bill that aims to ban the manufacture, distribution, sale, and purchase of semiautomatic guns with detachable magazines. They’ve got a fancy name for these firearms now: specified semiautomatic firearms. Under this proposal, a detachable magazine is the smoking gun of evil—despite the fact that according to the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, over 85% of firearms sold in Colorado have detachable magazines.

Of course, the bill comes with its caveats. If you already own one of these terrifying death machines, you’re fine. For now. And if you want to pass it on to your heir or ship it to another state? Sure, they’ll allow that too. But God forbid you’re a small-town gun shop owner or an enthusiast trying to exercise your constitutional right to arm yourself against the unknown—because, my friends, you’re the target here.

Colorado SB 25-003 doesn’t just target so-called "high-capacity magazines" or semiautomatic firearms—it strikes at the heart of Colorado’s rich hunting traditions and the rights of gun owners statewide. While the bill claims to curb gun violence, the collateral damage is clear: hunters, sportsmen, and responsible firearm owners are left holding the bag.

Semiautomatic firearms with detachable magazines are a staple for hunters. These tools provide efficiency and precision, allowing for accurate, ethical harvesting of game. Restricting detachable magazines to a fixed design with a maximum capacity of 15 rounds creates unnecessary hurdles for hunters and who rely on their equipment to perform in the field. Hunting regulations already require limited magazine capacity for certain game such as elk and mule deer. Small game and predators, currently do not require a limit to magazine capacity.

Beyond hunters, everyday gun owners will face increased costs and challenges. Guns with detachable magazines dominate the market—making up an estimated 85% of firearms sold in the state. Forcing manufacturers to redesign firearms to comply with the new standards will drive up prices and limit availability, leaving countless Coloradans unable to afford or access the tools they use for self-defense, recreation, and sport. And what about the ripple effect? Colorado often sets the precedent for restrictive gun laws, and other states are likely to follow. This isn’t just a Colorado issue; it’s a warning shot for gun owners nationwide.

The bill also undermines trust in the state’s commitment to its outdoor heritage. Colorado’s identity is deeply tied to its hunting and outdoor culture—a culture that attracts residents and tourists alike. Alienating the hunting community with legislation like Colorado SB 25-003 threatens to erode that legacy, damaging both tradition and the economy built around it.

Unfortunately, these consequences are glossed over by proponents of the bill, who frame it as a "reasonable step" toward reducing gun violence. But in reality, it does little to address the actions of criminals while placing undue burdens on law-abiding citizens. Criminals don’t follow magazine capacity limits or firearm restrictions—they never have, and they never will. All this bill achieves is punishing those who already play by the rules.

The Bill’s Logic—Or Lack Thereof

The champions of Colorado SB 25-003, like Senator Tom Sullivan, invoke emotional appeals to push their agenda. Sullivan, whose tragic loss in the Aurora theater shooting understandably fuels his passion, wants this bill to fix what he sees as Colorado’s gun problem. But here’s the rub: guns don’t kill people—people kill people. A semiautomatic rifle sitting in a safe doesn’t suddenly grow legs and go on a killing spree. It’s the human behind the trigger, driven by malice or madness, who pulls the strings of violence.

Yet here we are, watching lawmakers use fear as a sledgehammer to chip away at the rights of responsible gun owners. They claim this will prevent mass shootings, but let’s be real: criminals don’t follow laws. You think some gang member or deranged individual plotting a massacre is going to care about a detachable magazine ban? It’s laughable.

Legacy Media and Their Gun Law Gospel

Ah, the legacy media—those polished purveyors of half-truths and skewed narratives. When it comes to gun laws, they’ve got a favorite story to tell: “More gun laws equal less gun crime.” They parrot the same cherry-picked stats and doctored studies, spoon-feeding the masses a tale of utopia where criminals politely obey magazine bans and background checks magically stop every bad actor. But let’s be real: the numbers don’t back their sermons.

States with the most draconian gun laws—California and New York for example—consistently top the charts for violent crime. Yet, the media never connects those dots. Instead, they spin statistics to fit their agenda, ignoring inconvenient truths like the fact that lawful gun owners are among the most responsible groups in the country. They push feel-good headlines while dismissing the undeniable reality that criminals, by definition, don’t follow laws.

And where’s the real information? Not in the slick suits and teleprompter readings of the legacy networks. Take a look at this video. It is pure dystopian theater—dozens of local news anchors, smiling through gritted teeth, delivering the exact same scripted warning about "fake news." Their voices are different, their faces regionalized for local flavor, but the message is eerily identical, like Stepford anchors on a corporate leash. This isn’t journalism. It’s a canned speech blasted out to millions of unsuspecting viewers, a synchronized mockery of the free press. The anchors may as well have been reading from George Orwell’s notebook, with all the sincerity of a used car salesman pushing a lemon.

So, if you’re looking for the raw, unfiltered reality of the gun debate, don’t bother with the six o’clock news. Tune in to the independents—the ones pulling back the curtain on the media machine. Because the truth doesn’t come with a corporate sponsor. It comes from those who refuse to be silenced.

The Second Amendment Under Fire

This isn’t just a Colorado problem; it’s a national issue. The Second Amendment—the right to keep and bear arms—isn’t some antiquated suggestion from powdered-wig-wearing men. It’s a fundamental right, born out of a history where tyranny was fought off by armed citizens. Colorado SB 25-003 is just another notch in the belt of those who would see that right reduced to a privilege, granted only to the government and its agents.

Who’s really affected by Colorado SB 25-003? Not the criminals. They’ll continue to get their hands on whatever firepower they want, just as they always have. It’s the law-abiding citizens who suffer. Hunters, sport shooters, collectors, and everyday people who simply want to protect their families now face an uphill battle to exercise their rights.

Background checks? Absolutely. If you’re a law-abiding citizen with no dangerous history, you’ve got nothing to worry about. And mandatory training? That’s just common sense. Guns aren’t inherently dangerous—it’s how they’re handled that makes the difference.

If you want a firearm, you should know how it works, how to handle it safely, and when it’s appropriate to use it. Education should be the foundation of firearm ownership, not an afterthought. This isn’t about restrictions—it’s about making sure every gun owner is prepared, informed, and capable of handling that responsibility. With rights come responsibilities, and this is no exception.

A Final Shot on Colorado SB 25-003

Colorado SB 25-003 is not a bill about public safety—it’s about control. It’s a flashy, feel-good measure that will do nothing to stop violence but everything to erode the rights of responsible gun owners. The legislators behind this bill are aiming at the wrong target. Instead of addressing the root causes of violence—mental health issues, socioeconomic disparity, and the breakdown of community—they’ve chosen to go after an inanimate object.

Colorado, the ball is in your court. Will you stand up for the Second Amendment, for the right to protect yourself and your family? Or will you let fear and political theater strip away your freedoms one piece of legislation at a time?

Forged in the wilds of Ohio, Ron Guy Jr grew up steeped in the chaotic beauty of the outdoors—hunting whitetail and waterfowl in the cold dawn light with a pack of family renegades. That was the spark, but the fire burned far brighter. He chased it across the Rockies—those jagged gods of stone and snow—climbing peaks, carving powder runs, and stalking mule deer and elk through the sagebrush. The Appalachians called too, with their misty ridgelines and ghost stories, offering just as much danger and reward. When he wasn’t dodging avalanches or flushing upland game birds from the grasslands of Wyoming, he was fighting fire—sweat, smoke, and adrenaline—turning chaos into control and lighting prescribed burns to heal the land. Now, with six daughters and a son on the way, he’s saving for a homestead, dreaming of a place where the wild and the human can coexist on his own terms.