Colorado SB 25-003 gun ban defunds wildlife programs

[bayoublaster7527]

Colorado SB 25-003 bans semi-automatic firearms that accept detachable magazines. An amendment to the bill created a carve out where individuals could purchase the above banned firearms by acquiring a FOID, which requires a class administered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

According to the Fiscal Note on SB 25-003- Technical Note, “The Firearms Training and Safety Course Cash Fund is intended to cover costs for the CPW to administer the records system. However, it will not have sufficient revenue in FY 2025-26 to cover these costs. The fiscal note assumes an appropriation from the Wildlife Cash Fund to the DNR, although uses of the Wildlife Cash Fund in the CPW are limited by statute, which would need to be amended to allow this cash fund to pay for costs associated with the bill. Without an amendment, another funding source would need to be identified.”

The Wildlife Cash Fund is paid for by hunters, anglers, and parks users. It is used to support wildlife habitat, public access, and wildlife-related recreation. It cannot and should not be used to fund firearms licensing, particularly semi-automatic firearms with detachable magazines. During the CPW Commission meeting this week, Director Davis and numerous Commissioners called out serious budget concerns funding critical CPW wildlife programs. Why would Colorado politicians divert funds from vital wildlife programs to fund firearm licensing? Why should hunters, anglers, hikers, bikers, campers, and birdwatchers have to take on the financial burden of licensing semi-automatic firearms with detachable magazines? SB 25-003 violates statute regarding appropriate use of the Wildlife Cash Fund and Colorado wildlife are too important in this current environment. This bill should be tabled or sent back to the original sponsors and committee.


SB 25-003 is scheduled for the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, March 11th. Would love to see the wildlife conservation community speak out against it with a singular voice.

House Judiciary Committee members:

Javier Mabrey
[email protected]
303-866-2966

Michael Carter
[email protected]
303-866-2942

Ryan Armagost
[email protected]
303-866-2906

Jennifer Bacon
[email protected]
303-866-2909

Jarvis Caldwell
[email protected]
303-866-2191

Chad Clifford
[email protected]
303-866-5510

Cecelia Espenoza
[email protected]
303-866-2954

Lorena Garcia
[email protected]
303-866-2964

Rebecca Keltie
[email protected]
303-866-2937

Matthew Soper
[email protected]
303-866-2583

@Howl For Wildlife
@robby denning

 

[bayoublaster7527]

Updated with HOUSE Judiciary Committee members.

 

[5MilesBack]

If CPW is giving the training class, will they also create the curriculum? I'm quite sure a CPW Hunter's Safety Card wouldn't be sufficient for these legislators, as that wouldn't generate any additional income, or gun owner registrations.

 

[bayoublaster7527]

I believe so. If you already have a Hunters Education certification you get to take an abridged firearms safety course, like 4 hours vs. the full class at 8 or more hours. Bad on many levels. I would also like to see CPW and DNR leadership reach out to the General Assembly and express their concern over defunding wildlife and outdoors programs, while violating statute. Don’t know if that will happen considering they are under Gov Polis’ thumb.