Colorado Enacts Sweeping Restrictions on Semiautomatic Firearms

Gov. Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 3 into law, introducing strict controls on the sale, manufacture, and purchase of certain semiautomatic weapons, with implementation set for August 2026.

• Senate Bill 3 bans the manufacture and sale of many semiautomatic firearms, including AR-15 and AK-47 variants, effective August 2026.
• The law immediately prohibits rapid-fire trigger devices, such as bump stocks, to curb the rate of fire for semiautomatic weapons.
• Prospective buyers of affected firearms must pass a background check and complete a state-sanctioned safety training course.
• Existing firearm owners are exempt from the restrictions, allowing them to retain their weapons even if they fall under the new bans.
• Gun rights groups have announced plans to challenge the law's constitutionality, citing concerns over Second Amendment rights.

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