Colorado Senate Democrats on Tuesday passed two bills restricting firearm access, aiming to raise the age to purchase ammunition to 21 and to tighten restrictions on gun shows. The bills will now be sent on to the desk of Democratic Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Courthouse News reports. “Our question is always, ‘Where did they get the gun?’ Now, our question is going to be, ‘Where did they get the ammunition?’” said Aurora Senator Tom Sullivan, speaking ahead of the vote on HB25-1133, “Requirements for Sale of Firearms Ammunition.” Introduced two years after Colorado increased the age to purchase a firearm, this bill similarly raises the age to purchase ammo to 21, with exceptions for military, police and shooting range attendees.
Since losing his 27-year-old son Alex in the 2012 Aurora theater shooting, Sullivan has become a strong advocate for gun reform. If signed, retailers caught selling ammunition to underage customers would face a civil infraction for a first offense and a class 1 misdemeanor for subsequent offenses. Similar to alcohol sales, the bill requires delivery drivers to verify an individual’s age before dropping off a package of ammunition. Democratic legislators also looked to tighten regulations on gun show venues through HB25-1238, the “Gun Show Requirements” bill. Although originally drafted to raise the age to attend gun shows to 21, the bill was amended to allow patrons 18 and up to attend gun shows without an adult. Gun show coordinators must also retain liability insurance, implement security and enforce the state’s three-day waiting period law, which was enacted in 2023.
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