Gun rights group challenges Colorado’s upcoming assault rifle restrictions
A gun rights group on Tuesday filed a lawsuit challenging Colorado’s new restrictions on assault rifles, which require prospective buyers to complete a safety course before purchasing rapid-fire firearms.
The Colorado State Shooting Association, joined by six individuals, is suing Governor Jared Polis and Attorney General Philip Weiser over Senate Bill 25-3, formally titled “Concerning the Prohibition of Certain Semiautomatic Firearms and Rapid-Fire Devices.” The plaintiffs argue that the law infringes on Second Amendment rights and lacks any historical precedent to justify the restrictions.
The law, passed largely along party lines by Democrats earlier this year, defines the targeted weapons as semiautomatic rifles or shotguns with detachable magazines, and gas-operated semiautomatic handguns with detachable magazines. Starting August 1, 2026, Coloradans seeking to purchase these firearms must pass a background check, obtain a firearms safety course eligibility card from their local sheriff, and complete a hunter education course. Violations carry penalties ranging from a class 2 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony for repeat offenses.
Supporters of the measure cite Colorado’s tragic history of mass shootings, from the 1999 Columbine attack to the 2021 Boulder supermarket shooting, as justification for the law. Previous state measures have limited magazine capacity, raised the minimum age to 21 for gun ownership, and imposed a three-day waiting period for purchases.
The plaintiffs maintain that the law violates constitutional rights and conflicts with Supreme Court rulings, including the 2022 Bruen decision, which emphasizes comparing modern firearm regulations to historical precedent. Their complaint notes that decisions in Heller, McDonald, and Bruen establish that restrictions on the ability of citizens to “keep” or “bear” arms are unconstitutional absent historical analogues.
Among the plaintiffs are Kathleen Clayton, a domestic violence survivor who carries a small semi-automatic handgun; firearm instructor Nathanael Skiver, concerned about mandatory training; Luke Sorenson, a 19-year-old barred from purchasing semi-automatic firearms until age 21; and Israel Del Toro, a disabled Air Force veteran affected by restrictions on rapid-fire devices.
Governor Polis and Attorney General Weiser have not commented on the lawsuit. When signing the bill in April, Polis emphasized that the law is not a ban, but a measure to improve safety through proper training and education.
The gun owners are represented by Mountain States Legal Foundation attorney Michael McCoy, and the case is being overseen by Senior U.S. District Judge William Martinez, appointed by former President Barack Obama.
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