What Is the New Colorado SB25-003 Law?

Colorado residents face a substantial change to their gun ownership rights beginning August 1, 2026, under Colorado SB25-003, often referred to as the state’s “Gun Ban Law.” But what does this new law actually mean for Colorado’s current and future gun owners, and what are the potential consequences for gun violations in Colorado Springs?

What Does Colorado SB25-003 Prohibit?

According to the Colorado General Assembly, the new law states the following:

“Concerning prohibited activity involving semiautomatic firearms, and, in connection therewith,  the manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale, and purchase of specified semiautomatic firearms, classifying a device that increases the rate of fire of a semiautomatic firearm as a dangerous weapon, and making an appropriation.”

While the initial bill permanently prohibited the sale of rapid-fire weapons and detachable magazines in Colorado, following pressure from the legislature, rounds of amendments have softened the language of the bill and allowed Colorado residents to purchase these items after meeting specific requirements.

Colorado SB25-003 also prohibits the sale or purchase of conversion devices to transform firearms into rapid-fire weapons, including bump stocks, binary triggers, and other aftermarket triggers and conversion devices.

Finally, under Colorado SB25-003, the Department of Revenue (DOR) will revoke the Colorado firearms dealer permits of all dealers convicted of violating the new law.

What Is The Legal Pathway to Purchasing Semi-Automatic Firearms Under Colorado SB25-003?

The new gun law in Colorado may be branded as a gun ban, but it does still allow Colorado residents to purchase high-powered weapons through an education pathway that consists of the following process:

• First, the buyer must obtain a firearms course eligibility card from their County Sheriff’s Department after passing a background check
• Then, within five years of the purchase, they must have successfully completed a hunter’s safety course and an additional basic, 4-hour firearms course, or
• If the buyer hasn’t already passed a hunter’s course, they must pass an extended firearms safety course through Colorado Parks and Wildlife within five years of making the purchase

Passing the course requires at least a 90% success in both a written examination and a hands-on practical exam. The prospective purchaser is also responsible for paying fees for the eligibility card and the firearms safety course.

Exemptions and Grandfathered-In Firearms Under Colorado SB25-003

There are several carve-out categories of firearms that are exempt from the SB25-003 ban. These include the following:

• Rimfire weapons of .22 caliber or smaller, unless they have separate upper and lower receivers
• Manually operated firearms that are operated by bolts, levers, pumps, or slide-action
• Semiautomatic firearms that include a permanently affixed magazine of no more than 15 rounds
• Single or double-action semi-automatic handguns that function through recoil rather than gas for cycling

In addition, Colorado residents who already own a newly prohibited firearm that predates the launch of Colorado SB25-003 are “grandfathered in,” meaning they may keep their legally purchased firearms and are not required to meet the education requirements necessary for purchasing new semi-automatic weapons in order to keep the firearms they already own, only to buy new weapons.

Understanding Penalties for Violations of Colorado SB25-003 After August 1, 2026

Under the new law, the unlawful sale, purchase, or transfer of large-capacity magazines is a class 2 misdemeanor crime for a first violation and becomes a class 6 felony for further violations.

In addition, as a penalty for a conviction, the convicted individual may be denied the future purchase or transfer of firearms and may face a conviction for possession of an illegal firearm, which is a felony offense in Colorado Springs and throughout Colorado State. 

If you are facing charges for illegal firearm possession, contact Anaya Law Group for a free case evaluation and to discuss your legal options today.