ADVOCATE
In the Colorado Legislature
The 2023 Legislative Session
BILLS WE SUPPORT (as of January 28, 2023):
SB23-022 Add Vehicular Theft to POWPO-eligible felonies
Status: Assigned to Judiciary
Sponsor: Senator Nick Hinrichsen
Adds aggravated vehicular theft to the list of felonies that are POWPO-eligible (Possession of Weapons by a Previous Offender).
BILLS ON WHICH WE ARE NEUTRAL
None January 28, 2023
BILLS WE OPPOSE:
HB23-1044 Second Amendment Preservation Act – STRONGLY OPPOSE
Sponsor: Representative Ken DeGraaf.
Status: Assigned to State Affairs. Hearing 2/6/2023 1:30 p.m. Room LSB-A. Moves interpreting the second amendment from the Supreme Court to the state legislature. Provides $50,000 fines to jurisdictions that enforce laws that tax, prohibit, register or confiscate firearms or accessories. Would thereby nullify large capacity magazine ban and ERPO (Red Flag) laws. Violates U.S. Constitution Supremacy Clause.
HB23-1050 Use of Deadly Force In Business – STRONGLY OPPOSE
Sponsor: Representative Ty Winter.
Status: Assigned to State Affairs. Hearing 2/6/2023 1:30 p.m. Room LSB-A.
Would allow a manager, employee or anyone with a concealed carry permit to use deadly force against an intruder in a business location if they felt threatened, no matter how slight. This is a Stand Your Ground bill. Think of the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Florida, and youʼve got the idea. This type of bill has been defeated sixteen previous years.
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Gun Bills Colorado Ceasefire Supported and Helped Pass in 2021 and 2022
Download Our Status Sheet Detailing 2021 Legislative Session
Download our Status Sheet Detailing the 2022 Legislative Session
Dangerous Gun Bills Ceasefire Helped Defeat
THESE DANGEROUS BILLS WERE DEFEATED
HB22-1086 Vote Without Fear and HB22-1257. We were the ones shaking the tree on HB22-1257. Our team spent many hours researching and examining all the felonies in Colorado and working with CCJJ subcommittees to make another 60+ POWPO-eligible (correcting a mistake of the 2021 legislature).
We worked to enact both bills, plus worked to defeat 5 bad bills.
HB21-1038 Guns in School – Strongly Oppose
Status: Defeated House State Affairs 3/17/21 on 4-7 party-line vote.
Sponsor: Representative Neville. Would allow anyone with a concealed carry (CCW) permit to carry a hidden handgun into any K-12 public school. 9th consecutive year for a “guns in schools” bill.
HB21-1070 Repeal Ammunition Magazine Ban- Strongly Oppose
Status: Defeated House State Affairs3/17/21 on 4-7 party-line vote. (Rep. Hanks) Would remove the 15-round limit imposed in 2013. 8th consecutive year for this proposal.
HB21-1082 Bypass Background Check with CCW permit –Oppose
Status: Defeated House State Affairs3/17/21 on 4-7 party-line vote. (Rep. McKean). Would permit anyone with a CCW permit to bypass background check when seeking transfer of firearm. 3rd appearance since 2006.
HB21-1098 Civil Liability with ERPO – Strongly Oppose
Status: : Defeated House Judiciary 3/16/21 on 4-7 party-line vote. (Rep. Woog). Would allow anyone who suffers injury or damage who couldn’t defend self because of an ERPO to sue anyone who drafted, proposed, promoted or provided support for the 2019 ERPO (Extreme Risk Protections Orders) law. In case of death or disability, damages assessed from $100,000 – $100 million. Amended so target of suit is petitioner and damage award at $5000 + costs.
HB21-1185 Governor Emergency Powers – Oppose
Status: Defeated House State Affairs 3/17/21 on 4-7 party-line vote. (Rep. Neville) Would remove from the Governor’s emergency powers the ability to suspend firearms sales and distributions. Also, would overturn SB13-195, which prohibited on-line concealed carry classes.
In the U.S. Congress
Already, there are already 26 firearms-related bills introduced in Congress. This is a selection of prominent ones.
S.14 Minimum Age for Gun Purchase
Sponsors: 22 Co-Sponsors
Sets minimum age for assault weapons and large capacity magazine purchase to 21.
S.25 Assault Weapons Ban
Sponsor: 41 co-sponsors including Bennet and Hickenlooper.
Text is not yet available, but presumablybans the sale and possession of assault weapons
H.R. 38 Federally Mandated Concealed Carry (CCW) Reciprocity – STRONGLY OPPOSE
Status: Introduced. 146 co-sponsors including Lamborn, and Buck. Would mandate that every state honor CCW permits from other states and also people from permitless states. Would allow someone denied a permit in Colorado to get one in a state that doesnʼt require residency and would allow individuals to take their guns into K-12 schools, and to sue law enforcement officers or a political subdivision if a person is are arrested or detained.
H.R. 151 Remove Short-Barreled Shotguns from National Firearms Act of 1934 – STRONGLY OPPOSE
Status: Introduced. 37 co-sponsors including Rep. Buck from Colorado.
H.R. 152 Hearing Protection Act – STRONGLY OPPOSE
Status: Introduced. 58 co-sponsors including Rep. Buck from Colorado. Removes silencers from the National Firearms Act of 1934.
VOLUNTEER
Learn how to lobby and educate about common sense gun legislation.
ACT
Contact your legislators by phone call or email . Your message can ensure that legislators who may only be listening to the NRA know that their voters have a different opinion.
DONATE
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How a bill becomes law in the Colorado Legislature
Legislator
Can only submit 5 bills each session, unless granted permission by leadership.
Must submit bills by a specified date, unless granted permission by leadership for a late bill.
Finds a supportive legislator in the other chamber as a sponsor and lines up co-sponsors.
Works with legislative services to draft language consistent with state statute.
Legislators are anxious to pass bills under their own names to demonstrate to their constituents their commitment to working for the good of Colorado and their district.
Title
In Colorado the title of a bill is extremely important and legislators are careful in how they craft the title. Under the Colorado constitution, a measure cannot cover more than one issue. Additionally, the bill cannot be amended unless the amendment conforms with the title. Unfriendly amendments have even occurred which erased the bill entirely and replaced it with new language. Sometimes amendments are applied which have strategic intent for election purposes.
First Reading
First reading is when the bill is read across by the clerk in the first chamber of reference (house or senate).
The bill is then assigned to a committee of reference by the majority leadership of the chamber. Sometimes the leadership will assign the bill to several committees. State, Veterans and Military Affairs committee is often used by the leadership for bills they do not want to see continue.
All bills with a fiscal note must be approved by the Appropriations Committee before going to the “committee of the whole” (the house or senate chamber). Appropriations can defeat the bill for any reason, not just monetary. No testimony is taken at Appropriations.
Committee Hearings
The committee of reference takes public testimony and discusses the bill. It will consider amendments and then vote whether or not to approve the bill.
Bills that are approved by a majority of the committee then go on to the next committee of reference, which could be another committee or the committee of the whole.
Bills that fail to receive a majority of votes in committee are usually considered for postponing indefinitely (PI). Bills that are PI’ed are dead for the session.
Committee hearings (except Appropriations) generally occur in the afternoons or after adjournment of the Committee of the Whole. They also have a set meeting weekly schedule, although this may all change towards the end of the session.
Only rarely will a committee meet on Friday.
A bill hearing must appear on the calendar at least 48-hours before it is to be considered.
2nd Reading
Occurs with the Committee of the Whole (entire House or Senate).
Bills, as amended by committee(s), are presented to the entire chamber and are debated.
Citizens may observe from the gallery, but no public testimony is taken.
Bills can be amended at 2nd reading.
When a vote is taken, if the bill is defeated, it is considered dead (although occasionally there is a parliamentary move to reconsider).
The votes on second reading are not recorded, unless someone does a parliamentary maneuver to ensure recording of the votes.
3rd Reading
In order to obtain approval of a chamber, the bill must be approved on a 3rd reading.
Therefore, every legislator has an opportunity to rethink his or her vote on a bill (and sometimes get an earful from the citizenry).
It is generally considered bad form to offer amendments to a third reading of a bill, and legislators have to receive permission of the chamber to offer one.
3rd reading votes are final and are recorded. Votes appear in the journal of the chamber.
On to the Other Chamber
After the bill passes 3rd reading, it then proceeds to the other chamber for the same 3 readings. The successful amendments from the first chamber are incorporated into an “engrossed” bill.
Resolving Differences Between Chambers
After a bill passes 3rd reading in the second chamber, it heads to the Governor for his signature or veto, unless the 2nd chamber or committees amended the bill. Those Amended bills are sent back to the first chamber, where a concurrence vote is sought.
If the first chamber does not concur with the changes applied by the second chamber, a conference committee is appointed to work out the differences. The bill that emerges from the conference committee must be approved by both chambers before heading to the Governor.
Governor
Governor may choose to sign, veto, or take no action on a bill.
A bill becomes law if:
- Governor signs
- 2/3 of each chamber overrides the Governor’s veto
- Governor fails to sign after 10 days during session or 30 days after legislature adjourns.
Budgetary Process
In mid-March legislative attention turns to the state budget and the Long bill (because it is very long). This bill funds the entire state government. The Long bill is a product of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC), a powerful bipartisan committee that works closely all session focused on the state budget.
Colorado U.S. Senate Race: Candidates’ positions on gun laws
Republican
Democrat
Colorado will be one of the key states watched for control of the U.S. Senate. There is one Republican challenging the incumbent, Sen. Cory Gardner, and ten Democrats.
Use the toggle button above to learn about Republican and Democratic positions on gun violence prevention.
Cory Gardner
The incumbent U.S. Senator, Gardner is a fervent opponent of gun violence prevention, and would likely oppose virtually all of our key gun violence prevention measures. His website is silent on all of our key proposals, but does say he is “proud to support and protect an individual’s right to keep and bear arms.” He refers to misguided attempts to limit that right, which would likely include gun violence prevention measures.
Web site: https://www.gardner.senate.gov/about-cory/biography
Actions: As a Colorado House member, was the sponsor of the first “Stand Your Ground –
business bill, which would have granted immunity for use of lethal force in business location.
Similar bills have been defeated for 14 years.
Selected Votes:
2016 – S. amdt 4720 Voted NO on prohibited firearms to terrorists
2016 – S. amdt 4750 Voted NO on Fix Gun Checks Act
2014 – H. amdt 1098 Voted YES on prohibiting DC from implementing firearms laws
2011 – HR 822 – Voted YES on Concealed Carry Reciprocity
2007 – Voted NO on Colorado SB07-34 CCW residency restrictions
Margo Dupre
Realtor and the only Republican challenger to Cory Gardner
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Margot.for.US.Senate/
Diana Bray
Psychologist and climate activist.
Website:
https://dianaforcolorado.com
Lorena Garcia
Community organizer
Web site: https://lorenaforsenate.com/who-is-lorena/
John Hickenlooper
Former mayor of Denver and Governor of Colorado. Signed 2013 Gun laws, including Universal Background Checks, High Capacity Magazine Ban, and Domestic Violence Relinquishment .In June 2014, told sheriffs he regretted signing the High Capacity Magazine Ban law and that he did so because of a staff commitment, saying, “No one in our office thought it would get through the legislature.”
Web site: https://www.hickenlooper.com
Andrew Romanoff
Former speaker of the Colorado House, candidate for US Senate in 2010 and nominee for US House CD 6 in 2014.
Brought Democrats into control of Colorado House after 28 years in minority. Only Speaker to serve 2 terms in the last 20+ years.
Brought the mental health community into support of ERPO, worked to get bill introduced in 2018, and was speaker at the introductory press conference.
Website: https://www.andrewromanoff.com/
Stephany Rose Spaulding
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs professor and nominee for US House CD 5 in 2018.
Web site: https://stephanyforco.com
Trish Zornio
Biomedical scientist
Web site: https://zornio2020.com/
Erik Underwood
A tech entrepreneur running as a Democrat. In 2016 he ran as a Republican for the U.S. Senate. At the state Republican convention, he stated: “They’re not going to take your guns away if I’m in the United States Senate.” Web site: https://www.erikunderwood.com
Michelle Ferringno Warren
Immigration activist, community organizer Web site: https://michelleforcolorado.com
Dave Goldfischer
Professor at the University of Denver, U.S. national security professional
Web site: https://www.goldfischer2020.com
Critter Milton
Financial adviser, outdoor enthusiast.
Web site: https://crittermilton.com/
This is just a sampling of what Democratic candidates have on their web/Facebook sites. We suspect there is little difference between candidates on gun violence prevention philosophies. Some have not chosen to comment on specific gun violence prevention issues even though we understand they have expressed support elsewhere. This will be updated, and eventually Ceasefire will do a questionnaire.
Republican
Democrat
Colorado will be one of the key states watched for control of the U.S. Senate. There is one Republican challenging the incumbent, Sen. Cory Gardner, and ten Democrats.
Use the toggle button above to learn about Republican and Democratic positions on gun violence prevention.
Cory Gardner
The incumbent U.S. Senator, Gardner is a fervent opponent of gun violence prevention, and would likely oppose virtually all of our key gun violence prevention measures. His website is silent on all of our key proposals, but does say he is “proud to support and protect an individual’s right to keep and bear arms.” He refers to misguided attempts to limit that right, which would likely include gun violence prevention measures.
Web site: https://www.gardner.senate.gov/about-cory/biography
Actions: As a Colorado House member, was the sponsor of the first “Stand Your Ground –
business bill, which would have granted immunity for use of lethal force in business location.
Similar bills have been defeated for 14 years.
Selected Votes:
2016 – S. amdt 4720 Voted NO on prohibited firearms to terrorists
2016 – S. amdt 4750 Voted NO on Fix Gun Checks Act
2014 – H. amdt 1098 Voted YES on prohibiting DC from implementing firearms laws
2011 – HR 822 – Voted YES on Concealed Carry Reciprocity
2007 – Voted NO on Colorado SB07-34 CCW residency restrictions
Margo Dupre
Realtor and the only Republican challenger to Cory Gardner
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Margot.for.US.Senate/
Diana Bray
Psychologist and climate activist.
Website:
https://dianaforcolorado.com
Lorena Garcia
Community organizer
Web site: https://lorenaforsenate.com/who-is-lorena/
John Hickenlooper
Former mayor of Denver and Governor of Colorado. Signed 2013 Gun laws, including Universal Background Checks, High Capacity Magazine Ban, and Domestic Violence Relinquishment .In June 2014, told sheriffs he regretted signing the High Capacity Magazine Ban law and that he did so because of a staff commitment, saying, “No one in our office thought it would get through the legislature.”
Web site: https://www.hickenlooper.com
Andrew Romanoff
Former speaker of the Colorado House, candidate for US Senate in 2010 and nominee for US House CD 6 in 2014.
Brought Democrats into control of Colorado House after 28 years in minority. Only Speaker to serve 2 terms in the last 20+ years.
Brought the mental health community into support of ERPO, worked to get bill introduced in 2018, and was speaker at the introductory press conference.
Website: https://www.andrewromanoff.com/
Stephany Rose Spaulding
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs professor and nominee for US House CD 5 in 2018.
Web site: https://stephanyforco.com
Trish Zornio
Biomedical scientist
Web site: https://zornio2020.com/
Erik Underwood
A tech entrepreneur running as a Democrat. In 2016 he ran as a Republican for the U.S. Senate. At the state Republican convention, he stated: “They’re not going to take your guns away if I’m in the United States Senate.” Web site: https://www.erikunderwood.com
Michelle Ferringno Warren
Immigration activist, community organizer Web site: https://michelleforcolorado.com
Dave Goldfischer
Professor at the University of Denver, U.S. national security professional
Web site: https://www.goldfischer2020.com
Critter Milton
Financial adviser, outdoor enthusiast.
Web site: https://crittermilton.com/
This is just a sampling of what Democratic candidates have on their web/Facebook sites. We suspect there is little difference between candidates on gun violence prevention philosophies. Some have not chosen to comment on specific gun violence prevention issues even though we understand they have expressed support elsewhere. This will be updated, and eventually Ceasefire will do a questionnaire.
Colorado U.S. Senate Race: Candidates’ positions on gun laws
Republican
Democrat
Colorado will be one of the key states watched for control of the U.S. Senate. There is one Republican challenging the incumbent, Sen. Cory Gardner, and ten Democrats.
Use the toggle button above to learn about Republican and Democratic positions on gun violence prevention.
Cory Gardner
The incumbent U.S. Senator, Gardner is a fervent opponent of gun violence prevention, and would likely oppose virtually all of our key gun violence prevention measures. His website is silent on all of our key proposals, but does say he is “proud to support and protect an individual’s right to keep and bear arms.” He refers to misguided attempts to limit that right, which would likely include gun violence prevention measures.
Web site: https://www.gardner.senate.gov/about-cory/biography
Actions: As a Colorado House member, was the sponsor of the first “Stand Your Ground –
business bill, which would have granted immunity for use of lethal force in business location.
Similar bills have been defeated for 14 years.
Selected Votes:
2016 – S. amdt 4720 Voted NO on prohibited firearms to terrorists
2016 – S. amdt 4750 Voted NO on Fix Gun Checks Act
2014 – H. amdt 1098 Voted YES on prohibiting DC from implementing firearms laws
2011 – HR 822 – Voted YES on Concealed Carry Reciprocity
2007 – Voted NO on Colorado SB07-34 CCW residency restrictions
Margo Dupre
Realtor and the only Republican challenger to Cory Gardner
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Margot.for.US.Senate/
Diana Bray
Psychologist and climate activist.
Website:
https://dianaforcolorado.com
Lorena Garcia
Community organizer
Web site: https://lorenaforsenate.com/who-is-lorena/
John Hickenlooper
Former mayor of Denver and Governor of Colorado. Signed 2013 Gun laws, including Universal Background Checks, High Capacity Magazine Ban, and Domestic Violence Relinquishment .In June 2014, told sheriffs he regretted signing the High Capacity Magazine Ban law and that he did so because of a staff commitment, saying, “No one in our office thought it would get through the legislature.”
Web site: https://www.hickenlooper.com
Andrew Romanoff
Former speaker of the Colorado House, candidate for US Senate in 2010 and nominee for US House CD 6 in 2014.
Brought Democrats into control of Colorado House after 28 years in minority. Only Speaker to serve 2 terms in the last 20+ years.
Brought the mental health community into support of ERPO, worked to get bill introduced in 2018, and was speaker at the introductory press conference.
Website: https://www.andrewromanoff.com/
Stephany Rose Spaulding
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs professor and nominee for US House CD 5 in 2018.
Web site: https://stephanyforco.com
Trish Zornio
Biomedical scientist
Web site: https://zornio2020.com/
Erik Underwood
A tech entrepreneur running as a Democrat. In 2016 he ran as a Republican for the U.S. Senate. At the state Republican convention, he stated: “They’re not going to take your guns away if I’m in the United States Senate.” Web site: https://www.erikunderwood.com
Michelle Ferringno Warren
Immigration activist, community organizer Web site: https://michelleforcolorado.com
Dave Goldfischer
Professor at the University of Denver, U.S. national security professional
Web site: https://www.goldfischer2020.com
Critter Milton
Financial adviser, outdoor enthusiast.
Web site: https://crittermilton.com/
This is just a sampling of what Democratic candidates have on their web/Facebook sites. We suspect there is little difference between candidates on gun violence prevention philosophies. Some have not chosen to comment on specific gun violence prevention issues even though we understand they have expressed support elsewhere. This will be updated, and eventually Ceasefire will do a questionnaire.
Republican
Democrat
Colorado will be one of the key states watched for control of the U.S. Senate. There is one Republican challenging the incumbent, Sen. Cory Gardner, and ten Democrats.
Use the toggle button above to learn about Republican and Democratic positions on gun violence prevention.
Cory Gardner
The incumbent U.S. Senator, Gardner is a fervent opponent of gun violence prevention, and would likely oppose virtually all of our key gun violence prevention measures. His website is silent on all of our key proposals, but does say he is “proud to support and protect an individual’s right to keep and bear arms.” He refers to misguided attempts to limit that right, which would likely include gun violence prevention measures.
Web site: https://www.gardner.senate.gov/about-cory/biography
Actions: As a Colorado House member, was the sponsor of the first “Stand Your Ground –
business bill, which would have granted immunity for use of lethal force in business location.
Similar bills have been defeated for 14 years.
Selected Votes:
2016 – S. amdt 4720 Voted NO on prohibited firearms to terrorists
2016 – S. amdt 4750 Voted NO on Fix Gun Checks Act
2014 – H. amdt 1098 Voted YES on prohibiting DC from implementing firearms laws
2011 – HR 822 – Voted YES on Concealed Carry Reciprocity
2007 – Voted NO on Colorado SB07-34 CCW residency restrictions
Margo Dupre
Realtor and the only Republican challenger to Cory Gardner
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Margot.for.US.Senate/
Diana Bray
Psychologist and climate activist.
Website:
https://dianaforcolorado.com
Lorena Garcia
Community organizer
Web site: https://lorenaforsenate.com/who-is-lorena/
John Hickenlooper
Former mayor of Denver and Governor of Colorado. Signed 2013 Gun laws, including Universal Background Checks, High Capacity Magazine Ban, and Domestic Violence Relinquishment .In June 2014, told sheriffs he regretted signing the High Capacity Magazine Ban law and that he did so because of a staff commitment, saying, “No one in our office thought it would get through the legislature.”
Web site: https://www.hickenlooper.com
Andrew Romanoff
Former speaker of the Colorado House, candidate for US Senate in 2010 and nominee for US House CD 6 in 2014.
Brought Democrats into control of Colorado House after 28 years in minority. Only Speaker to serve 2 terms in the last 20+ years.
Brought the mental health community into support of ERPO, worked to get bill introduced in 2018, and was speaker at the introductory press conference.
Website: https://www.andrewromanoff.com/
Stephany Rose Spaulding
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs professor and nominee for US House CD 5 in 2018.
Web site: https://stephanyforco.com
Trish Zornio
Biomedical scientist
Web site: https://zornio2020.com/
Erik Underwood
A tech entrepreneur running as a Democrat. In 2016 he ran as a Republican for the U.S. Senate. At the state Republican convention, he stated: “They’re not going to take your guns away if I’m in the United States Senate.” Web site: https://www.erikunderwood.com
Michelle Ferringno Warren
Immigration activist, community organizer Web site: https://michelleforcolorado.com
Dave Goldfischer
Professor at the University of Denver, U.S. national security professional
Web site: https://www.goldfischer2020.com
Critter Milton
Financial adviser, outdoor enthusiast.
Web site: https://crittermilton.com/
This is just a sampling of what Democratic candidates have on their web/Facebook sites. We suspect there is little difference between candidates on gun violence prevention philosophies. Some have not chosen to comment on specific gun violence prevention issues even though we understand they have expressed support elsewhere. This will be updated, and eventually Ceasefire will do a questionnaire.
