JOINT RELEASE: Legislation to Prevent Gun Violence Goes Into Effect

Two new laws seek to prevent youth violence and deaths linked to firearm theft

DENVER, CO – Two new laws will go into effect on August 6 to prevent gun violence among youth and violence related to firearm theft. 

HB25-1250, sponsored by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, House Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, and Representative Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial, will standardize the distribution of educational materials about gun violence prevention to caregivers of Colorado kids. 

The new law will require the Office of Gun Violence Prevention in the Department of Public Health and Environment to accessibly post educational materials about preventing gun violence on its website to be distributed to school districts, charter schools, a board of cooperative services, and the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind at the beginning of each school year. Under the bill, local education providers would also be required to post the materials on their websites.

“Every student deserves a safe learning environment, which is why we crafted this law with the help of student advocates to protect our students and educators from gun violence,” Hamrick said. “As a gun violence prevention advocate and a former teacher, I know our students are counting on us to boost access to the tools that help mitigate youth violence and senseless gun deaths. This legislation works to increase community awareness and better inform parents and guardians about safe storage laws and resources available to them in their communities. Together, we’re taking a public health approach to connect our communities with resources to create a safer, more supportive space for our youth.”

“Preventing acts of gun violence begins at home,” Cutter said. “Some of the most devastating and preventable tragedies in our nation’s history have happened in Colorado schools, and one in three Colorado Middle and High School students say they can access a firearm in their home. Safe storage dramatically reduces firearm suicides and overall youth firearm fatalities. Information is power, and this bill simply helps inform and educate students and their families about gun violence and how to prevent it."

“Between raising the minimum age to purchase firearms to improving safe storage, we’re taking a multi-prong approach to addressing gun violence in our communities and schools,” Duran said. “This law boosts awareness for parents and guardians by providing them with resources, specifically prevention or intervention services, to help them better communicate with their children about gun violence. Building upon my safe storage legislation from 2021, this law works to spread awareness, making sure firearms are properly stored to keep our communities safe.”

Denver has worked closely with CU Boulder and Denver Health to use evidence-based approaches to addressing youth violence in Colorado. A Public Health Institute report outlined helpful public health focused strategies to combat youth violence, including the importance of identifying risk factors, intervening before violence can occur, and increasing awareness of this topic as a deterrent of gun violence.

SB25-205, sponsored by Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, and Representatives Cecelia Espenoza, D-Denver, and William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield, will help identify individuals who are trying to sell a firearm that has been reported lost or stolen or involved in a criminal investigation.

“SB25-205 comes from concerns raised by firearm dealers in my district, and is a win for both public safety and responsible small businesses,” Hinrichsen said. “It ensures that when someone wants to trade in or sell a used firearm, dealers have a clear process and safeguards while they check if a gun is lost or stolen. By guaranteeing timely law enforcement checks, we keep firearm transactions aboveboard and help people buy and sell through safe, legitimate channels. This law also protects dealers from making costly, unintentional purchases that could hurt their business.”

“This law allows federally licensed firearm dealers to request verification that they are not buying lost or stolen weapons,” Espenoza said. “We’re establishing a procedure and expediting serial number checks so firearm dealers have better tools to help keep our communities safe by identifying guns that have been stolen or involved in an unsolved crime.”

“We’ve created this law for the firearm dealers throughout Colorado who want to do their part to keep illegal guns off our streets,” Lindstedt said. “Running serial number checks alerts firearm dealers when they come across lost, stolen or crime-involved firearms that they wouldn’t be able to sell anyway. Now that this law is in effect, firearm dealers can better protect themselves from bad purchases while making their communities safer from gun crimes.”

SB25-205 establishes a procedure to allow a federal firearms licensee to request a firearm serial number check before purchasing a firearm from an individual. Under the law, local county sheriff’s offices must complete the serial number check within three business days of the request. 

If a licensee has a reason to believe that a person sold or attempted to sell a firearm that is stolen, lost, or involved in an open criminal investigation, they will be required to report the information to law enforcement within 48 hours.

Colorado Democrats have passed numerous laws to keep firearms out of the wrong hands, including laws to require gun owners to report when their firearm has been lost or stolen and properly store their firearms when not in use, including in their vehicles. The legislature also cracked down on “ghost guns” to keep unregulated, untraceable firearms out of our communities.