Colorado Governor Signs Legislation to Better Protect Colorado Communities from Gun Violence

Washington, DC —  Giffords praised Colorado Governor Jared Polis for the signage of HB21-1106 and SB21-0078, two bills that will save Colorado citizens from gun violence. The bill signing comes just a few weeks after a shooting that left ten people dead in Boulder, Colorado. HB21-1106, requires the safe storage of firearms, and SB21-0078, requires gun owners to report the loss or theft of a firearm.

“Safely storing firearms is an effective step toward protecting children and families from the devastating effects of gun violence. Reporting lost and stolen firearms is also a critical part of addressing the gun violence epidemic, reducing gun trafficking and making it easier for law enforcement to investigate crimes involving guns.” said Nico Bocour, Government Affairs Director.  “We thank Governor Jared Polis and Colorado lawmakers for demonstrating the courage to act on these laws and we look forward to continuing to work with them to save lives in Colorado.”

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.

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