Colorado Implements Mandatory Firearms Safety Training Law

The Government of Colorado implements Senate Bill 25-003 on August 1, 2026, establishing new requirements for the sale, transfer, and purchase of certain gas-operated handguns with detachable magazines, shotguns, and semiautomatic rifles. The law mandates that buyers complete state-approved firearms safety training, with courses ranging from basic to extended, before they can acquire covered weapons. A state system will track eligibility and course completion, though the law does not ban these firearms or require current owners to surrender them.

Exemptions to the training mandate include military use, law enforcement, inheritances, educational programs, and gunsmithing. The legislation has sparked a divide between safety advocates and firearm retailers. Representatives from Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence argue that the extreme lethality of these weapons makes safety training essential for public protection.

Conversely, firearm retailers argue the law creates unnecessary barriers to legal ownership. Jeremy Manson, General Manager of Spartan Defense, claims the requirements infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens and expects a decline in sales for the month of August.