Colorado Senate Advances 5 of 7 Gun Bills

Colorado Senate chambers

Five of the seven gun control bills, facing Colorado's Senate, were advanced on Friday.

Voting was almost completely on party lines, with some Democrats switching to the Republican side.

Gun control is extremely controversial in Colorado, which has a proud gun owning history.

The Senate voted to move forward on:

• House Bill 1224 limits gun ammunition magazines to fifteen rounds.
• House Bill 1228 revives fees for gun purchasers who need background checks.
• House Bill 1229 adds a background check requirement for guns sold in private transactions.
• Senate Bill 195 requires people seeking concealed carry permits to take gun training courses in person, not online.
• Senate Bill 197 expands a ban on gun ownership for people convicted of certain domestic violence offenses.

SB 195 and 197 will now move to the House for consideration.

Governor Hickenlooper has said he will sign HB 1224 and 1229, but has avoided commenting on HB 1228.

Sponsors of the other two bills withdrew them from the floor, effectively ending them.

• House Bill 1226 ends Colorado's law which keeps public college campuses from banning concealed weapons.
• Senate Bill 196 adds legal liability for gun sellers and owners.

SB 196 was considered the most controversial of all of the bills.