Less than a week after Gov. Jared Polis signed Colorado鈥檚 latest gun-control law, Republicans in the legislature announced Wednesday they have asked the federal government to investigate whether it infringes on the U.S. Constitution.
Colorado House Republicans say they have sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi asking her to review the law鈥檚 constitutionality through the Department of Justice鈥檚 newly-created .
鈥淲hen state leaders ignore constitutional concerns and refuse to even allow a resolution requesting judicial review, federal oversight becomes not only appropriate, but absolutely necessary,鈥� said Rep. Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud.
The law, Senate Bill 25-003, makes it illegal to buy, sell and manufacture a wide range of semiautomatic rifles, shotguns, pistols and some handguns that use detachable ammunition magazines, unless a person has a special permit. To obtain a permit, they would have to go through up to 12 hours of safety training and get approval from their local sheriff.
Rifles and shotguns that are loaded from the top, one round or shell at a time; those with fixed magazines of up to 15 rounds; and many handgun models would not be impacted. The law also does not touch any guns people already own.
Supporters, including almost all of the legislature鈥檚 Democrats, say the law will help limit the damage caused during mass shootings.
House Republicans argue it is unconstitutional because it undermines the Second Amendment. In their letter, they called the law鈥檚 passage 鈥渁n emergency鈥� for Coloradans鈥� self-defense and that they 鈥渁re calling on the federal administration to aid our efforts in challenging the constitutionality鈥� of the measure.
They were joined for Wednesday鈥檚 announcement by several county sheriffs who support involving the federal government.
鈥淲e have to do anything and everything we can to find out if there's a way to overturn this,鈥� said Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams. 鈥淚f we really want to focus on preventing crime, we need to focus on how to hold criminals accountable and keep them in jail and prison longer for the crimes that they commit.鈥�
Senate Republicans did not sign onto Monday鈥檚 letter to Attorney General Bondi, nor did they join their House colleagues during Wednesday鈥檚 announcement.
Democrats said they are confident the law will stand up to any test because they consulted regularly with the state鈥檚 attorney general while crafting the bill.
鈥淚t's important that whatever is being done in the state of Colorado, it's being thoroughly reviewed, and we continue to do things the right way,鈥� said Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver.
Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, called House Republicans鈥� letter politically motivated rather than based in actual policy.
It鈥檚 unusual for lawmakers to directly petition the U.S. Justice Department to review a freshly signed state law. Traditionally, disputes over a state law鈥檚 constitutionality are worked out in the courts.
Republicans鈥� letter said state-level legal challenges will be forthcoming, but not from them.
鈥淲e as House Republicans are not going to use taxpayer money to file a lawsuit,鈥� said Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs. 鈥淚'm sure there are plenty of organizations and citizen rights groups that may do that.鈥�
The executive director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, Ian Escalante, said Wednesday the group is actively working with lawyers to prepare a lawsuit, but that filing may have to wait because the law doesn鈥檛 go into effect until next summer.
Bondi was appointed to the top law enforcement position in the country by President Donald Trump. She the Second Amendment Enforcement Task Force last week to 鈥渢o advance President Trump鈥檚 pro-gun agenda and protect gun owners from overreach.鈥�
Republicans said they had not received a response from Bondi as of Wednesday morning.
