14-02-2025
Colorado bill raising age to purchase rifle, shotgun ammunition narrowly advances
DENVER (KDVR) — A bill that supporters say will create 'safeguards' on ammunition purchases and prevent gun violence in Colorado passed through the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee Thursday.
The measure, sponsored by Majority Leader Monica Duran, a Democrat representing Wheat Ridge, and Rep. Lindsay Gilchrist, a Democrat representing Denver County, would raise the minimum age required to purchase rifle and shotgun ammunition to 21 years old.
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Currently, Colorado law requires that anyone purchasing a firearm be at least 21 years old, but 18-year-olds are allowed to purchase ammunition. The measure that passed through committee on Thursday would raise the age requirement for ammunition, and require ammunition to be stored behind the counter, similar to measures taken to restrict access to nicotine products, cold medicine and other commonly misused or potentially harmful products.
The measure passed by a vote of 7-6, almost split on party lines. Democratic Rep. Bob Marshall joined Republicans in voting against the measure.
'Gun violence is both tragic and preventable, and as a victim of gun violence and intimidation in my youth, I know this bill can help save lives and make our communities safer,' said Duran in a release. 'Colorado Democrats have worked hard to protect Colorado communities from gun violence, including recently raising the age to purchase a firearm to 21 years old. With this bill, we're making Colorado gun laws straightforward – you must be at least 21 to purchase any type of firearm or ammunition. By increasing the age to purchase firearm ammunition and putting ammunition behind the counter, we can better protect our kids from gun violence and improve public safety.'
The bill to increase the age to buy guns in Colorado was passed during the 2023 Regular Session of the Colorado General Assembly and signed into law in April 2023. Other commonly used items that are age-restricted include nicotine, which became accessible only to those older than 21 years old in 2024 due to action taken by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
'Firearms are the leading cause of death for 18-20-year-olds, and the increase in firearm suicides should be alarming to everyone,' said Gilchrest in a release. 'As a mother to young kids, I worry that their school could be the next site of a mass tragedy. Gun violence is all too common in Colorado, but it doesn't have to be. That's why I'm sponsoring this bill to help reduce youth firearm suicides by raising the minimum age to purchase ammunition and adding protections, saving countless Colorado lives.'
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Colorado had 1,036 firearm deaths in 2022, which is the most recent data available. The CDC noted there are about 17.1 firearm deaths recorded per 100,000 Colorado residents.
The measure, as currently written, would require that sellers verify any firearm buyer is at least 21 years old using a valid government-issued photo identification. The bill also requires sellers to display ammunition in a position where an employee must assist the buyer. Additionally, anyone delivering ammunition would be required to verify that the person receiving the delivery is at least 21 years old.
The bill makes any violation of these steps a civil infraction, but further violations would grow into a class 1 misdemeanor. If signed into law, the measure would take effect July 1, 2026. The measure was referred to the Committee of the Whole on Thursday.
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