Colorado Legislators Advance Legislation to Better Protect Colorado Communities from Gun Violence

Washington, DC —  Giffords praised Colorado legislators for advancing HB21-1106 and SB21-0078, two bills that will save Colorado citizens from gun violence. Last week, Giffords Senior Counsel Allison Anderman and four members of the Colorado Gun Owners for Safety chapter testified in Colorado hearings, detailing to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees why it is important to pass commonsense gun safety laws. The bills passed in the Colorado House and Senate, respectively. Each now goes to the other chamber.

Peter Gurfein, Vic Bencomo, Everett Volk and Emily Engelhaupt, gun owners supporting responsible gun ownership and commonsense gun laws, asked Colorado lawmakers to pass HB21-1106, a bill requiring the safe storage of firearms, and SB21-0078, a bill requiring gun owners to report the loss or theft of a firearm.

“Legislators in Colorado have taken important steps to protect residents from gun violence with the advancement of HB21-1106 and SB21-0078,” said Nico Bocour, Government Affairs Director. “Safely storing firearms is a simple, effective step to protect children and communities. Simply put, safe storage of firearms saves lives. Reporting lost and stolen firearms is also an important part of addressing gun violence, making it easier for law enforcement to investigate crimes involving guns. Colorado lawmakers recognize that there is not just one solution to ending gun violence and have shown the courage to act.” 

HB21-1106, In Colorado, gun related deaths have risen 52% over the past decade. While most gun owners agree that there are responsible measures that must be taken to save lives, not enough households are safely storing firearms. Studies show that if just 20% more homes stored firearms locked and unloaded, nearly a third of youth suicides and unintentional gun deaths could be prevented. Other studies have shown that laws that impose liability on gun owners who fail to prevent children from accessing firearms are associated with reductions in youth suicides and unintentional shootings. 

SB21-0078, Every year, traffickers transfer hundreds of Colorado guns to criminals in other states, and studies suggest that stolen guns are disproportionately trafficked across state lines. From 2013 to 2017, 4,479 guns originally sold in Colorado were recovered at crime scenes in other states. Additionally, the rate of guns trafficked out of Colorado is increasing—from 2013 to 2017, the number of exported crime guns per Colorado resident increased by nearly 38%. These increases correspond with increases in the number of firearms stolen in Colorado.