Colorado

Colorado bill restricting sale of certain semiautomatic guns clears first House committee after notable tweaks

Published

1 year ago

March 12, 2025

Colorado bill restricting sale of certain semiautomatic guns clears first House committee after notable tweaks

A bill that would ban the manufacture and restrict the sale of certain semiautomatic firearms in Colorado cleared its first committee Tuesday in the state House after being tweaked.

Senate Bill 3 was amended to ease the vetting process for buyers seeking to purchase semiautomatic rifles, shotguns and pistols that can accept detachable ammunition magazines that would otherwise be outlawed by the measure.

County sheriffs would still be responsible for the vetting, but buyers would no longer have to get fingerprinted as part of an additional background check that would be required to purchase a weapon targeted by the measure. Instead, they would have to fill out an application, provide a photo ID and submit the results of a name-based state and national background check.

Another change would give sheriffs broad power under Senate Bill 3 to deny an application if they have a “reasonable belief that documented previous behavior by the applicant makes it likely the applicant will present a danger to themself or others.” A sheriff’s office could also revoke purchasing permissions under the same standard.

Would-be buyers, should they pass the vetting, would then have to go through four or 12 hours of training, depending on whether they already have a hunter safety certification, and pass a test to get a five-year pass to purchase a banned firearm. They would have to renew their training after five years if they wanted to buy more banned weapons.

An AR-15 with a detachable magazine at Bristlecone Shooting, Training and Retail Center in Lakewood, Colorado, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. The Colorado legislature is considering a bill that would ban the manufacture, purchase and sale of semiautomatic rifles and shotguns that are capable of accepting detachable ammunition magazines, as well as some semiautomatic pistols and handguns. (Jesse Paul, The Colorado Sun)

Colorado Parks and Wildlife would come up with the application, set the course requirements and determine the applicant fees for the process.

Senate Bill 3 was approved by a party-line vote of 7-4 by the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday after 12-plus hours of testimony. It next heads to the House Finance Committee before reaching the House floor, where Republicans are likely to battle against the legislation for hours — if not days.

The Democratic sponsors of the legislation originally planned Tuesday to move the vetting process under the umbrella of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, but they opted against that change when the state’s sheriff’s association said they wouldn’t drop their opposition to the legislation even if that change happened.

“(Sheriffs) currently do a process that is very similar in relation to concealed carry,” said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, a Fort Collins Democrat and lead sponsor of Senate Bill 3. “And so we do feel like they actually have the expertise and experience necessary to do this.”

Republicans on the Judiciary Committee complained that sheriffs would be burdened by the vetting.

“These small departments barely have enough budget to hire officers to do everyday patrol work,” said Rep. Ty Winter, R-Trinidad.

The measure would let sheriffs impose fees for the vetting to cover their costs.

The statehouse GOP is uniformly opposed to Senate Bill 3, but Republican state lawmakers can only delay passage of the legislation in the Democratic-controlled Capitol. They are mostly powerless to stop the measure, which is on track to reach the governor’s desk.

The measure was significantly watered down last month in the Senate from its introduced version. At first, the bill would have banned outright the manufacture and sale of semiautomatic rifles, shotguns and some pistols that can accept detachable ammunition magazines.

The paring back of the bill was done to appease Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat who has signaled he will now sign the measure.

Senate Bill 3, even in its weaker form, would still represent one of the biggest changes to Colorado gun policy in state history. It would affect AR-15 and AK-47 rifles, as well as their long list of popular variants. It would also affect tactical shotguns and a small portion of handguns.

The bill, which would go into effect in September, wouldn’t affect possession of the targeted weapons.

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Colorado

Final minute, full 2OT from Northwestern-Colorado lacrosse quarterfinal marathon

Published

11 hours ago

May 14, 2026

Press Room

Women’s Lacrosse

May 14, 2026

Final minute, full 2OT from Northwestern-Colorado lacrosse quarterfinal marathon

May 14, 2026

Watch the full regulation finish and both OT periods from Northwestern and Colorado’s battle in the quarterfinals of the 2026 NCAA women’s lacrosse tournament.

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Colorado

Live: Day 1 of Colorado high school state track and field meet

Published

23 hours ago

May 14, 2026

Press Room

Live: Day 1 of Colorado high school state track and field meet

LAKEWOOD — One of the most anticipated events in Colorado high school sports is back on the track.

The annual Colorado high school track and field state championship meet returns May 14-16 for the 2026 edition.

It kicks off May 14 as the Centennial State’s top leapers, runners, jumpers, sprinters, vaulters and throwers take over Lakewood’s JeffCo Stadium.

More than 100 Fort Collins-area athletes across four different classifications have qualified for the state meet.

Follow here for day one live state track & field updates from local athletes, plus some notable scores and results for Northern Colorado and statewide competitors.

This has the potential to be a massive state meet for the Fort Collins area.

Our top local sprinters and relay teams account for more than 40 top-two seeds in their events, while there are field contenders galore and several distance runners in the mix.

— Chris Abshire

It’s a busy year for Fort Collins-area athletes down at state track, with over 100 athletes qualifying from nine local schools.

Fort Collins High School leads the way with eighteen individual qualifiers and seven relay sqauds, but there’s plenty of representation across schools and events.

— Chris Abshire

Here are all the May 14 running finals at the 2026 Colorado state track & field championships:

8:20-8:35 a.m.: 5A boys/girls 3,200 meters
10:00-10:50 a.m.: 4A and 5A boys/girls 4×800 relays
11:00-11:30 a.m.: 4A/5A Special Olympics/Paralympics 100 dashes
Noon: 4A/5A Special Olympics/Paralympic 200 dashes
2:20-2:45 p.m.: Special Olympics/Paralympic 3A/2A/1A 100 and 200 dashes
4:00-5:00 p.m.: 3A and 2A boys/girls 4×800 relays
5:00-5:35 p.m.: 1A boys/girls 3,200 meters
6:00-6:15 p.m.: 3A boys/girls 3200 meters

— Chris Abshire

Here are all the May 14 field finals at the 2026 Colorado state track & field championships:

8:30 A.M.

5A girls pole vault and discus
5A boys long jump
4A girls high jump and shot put
4A boys triple jump

11/11:30 A.M.

5A boys pole vault and discus
5A girls long jump
4A boys high jump and shot put
4A girls triple jump

1:30/2:00/2:30 P.M.

3A boys triple jump
3A girls pole vault and discus
2A boys high jump
2A girls long jump and shot put

4/5 P.M.

3A boys high jump
3A girls triple jump
1A girls pole vault and discus
1A boys long jump and shot put

— Chris Abshire

Since the calendar hit 2000, there have been many remarkable achievements from local athletes at the Colorado state track & field meet.

From throws domination to Ray Bozmans’ sprint sweep or multiple sister acts, here are 15 of the best Fort Collins-area performances in the new millennium.

Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.

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Colorado

City leaders working to address housing deficit

Published

1 day ago

May 13, 2026

Press Room

City leaders working to address housing deficit

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Efforts are underway to bring more homes to Colorado Springs, just days after housing advocates pointed out some shortfalls. The Pikes Peak Housing Network says El Paso County has a housing deficit of between 13,000 and 27,000 homes right now. The organization says affordable housing remains a big need, but Colorado Springs officials say the community is pushing back on some developments.

Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade said housing “Will continue to be a crisis, but it’s also an opportunity.”

“Homes have risen far more in price than income; three times more,” said Pikes Peak Housing Network Executive Director Jill Gaebler.

Gaebler presented to the Colorado Springs City Council on Monday and said El Paso County is not building enough homes that the average person can afford right now. She said the median home price in the county currently sits around $500,000.

“The average age of the first-time homebuyer has increased to 40 years old. Just a decade ago, it was 31 years old,” said Gaebler, “we’re renting longer, getting that nest egg ready to purchase a home and put down a deposit.”

In Colorado Springs, Mayor Mobolade says the city is working on the issue.

“We’ve invested $230 million in affordable housing projects… But what I’m really proud of is 3000 homes since I got into office, affordable homes,” said Mobolade.

City of Colorado Springs Media Relations Manager Max D’Onofrio said in a statement to FOX21 the city is working to advance several initiatives, including “developing a Housing Action Plan; investing in new affordable and attainable housing through federal funds and private‑activity bonds; supporting rehabilitation programs for low‑income seniors; providing tenant‑based rental assistance; strengthening partnerships with the Colorado Springs Housing Authority; and maintaining the City’s eligibility for Proposition 123 to keep more projects moving forward.”

“We will continue to ensure that every money from the federal government that passes through the city and every money from the state that passes through the city will be prioritized for housing that targets the area median income that our residents need,” said Mobolade.

Gaebler says her organization helps builders who construct all types of homes connect with decision makers when seeking project approval. But she and the mayor say affordable housing often gets pushback from the community.

“It’s getting harder and harder for those projects to get approved because community members fight and oppose a lot of these housing developments,” said Gaebler.

“We’re seeing a pushback from our community on just about every affordable housing project,” said Mobolade, “I know people get hung up on that term. We’re not talking about Section 8 lower-income homes, not that that doesn’t matter, that matters. We’re talking about teachers, nurses, firefighters, police officers, military members that can’t afford to live in this city.”

D’Onofrio also stated, while the city focuses on affordable rentals and attainable homeownership, it is also aiming to preserve neighborhood character and protect quality of life.

The city did not give a date on when it is aiming to complete the Housing Action Plan, which it says is currently in the works.

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