While many are focusing on Colorado’s recently enacted ban on most semi-automatic firearms, Governor Polis is quietly enacting additional laws that will have a chilling effect on lawful, Second Amendment activities.
HB25-1133 was signed without much fanfare by Governor Polis on Friday, April 18, and heavily impacts both retail sales and shipping of ammunition. (Its primary sponsors are white, female liberals.) The law goes into effect July 1, 2026.
Key components of the bill require:
- locking up ammunition at retail shops
- prohibition on sales of ammunition to adults under 21
- a person shipping ammunition to give written notice to the ammunition deliverer that the package contains ammunition
- prohibits labeling the package in a manner that indicates that the package contains ammunition
- a retail ammunition deliverer to verify that the person receiving the delivery is 21 years of age or older and obtain written acknowledgment of receipt
The laws place additional burdens on retail establishments, shipping companies, and ammunition manufacturers and wholesalers. The law is likely a response in part to a 2024 announcement by LaGree’s Food Stores, a southern Colorado-based grocery store chain, which planned to install ammunition vending machines in its stores in Buena Vista, Poncha Springs, and Pueblo County.
It’s unclear how any of the laws would deter criminal activity.
Additionally, Polis signed HB25-1238, which places numerous restrictions and burdens on gun show promoters, and bans anyone from entering who is under 18.
Colorado now stands as one of the states with perhaps the most severe restrictions on Second Amendment activities, nearly all of which are unconstitutional.
