Pair of Bills to Create Safeguards on Ammunition Purchases, Improve Security at Gun Shows Pass Committee

DENVER, CO – Two bills to raise the minimum age to purchase ammunition for rifles and shotguns to 21 years old and improve security at gun shows passed the Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee today. 

HB25-1133, sponsored by Senators Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins, and Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, would raise the minimum age to purchase firearm ammunition to 21 years old, with some exceptions, and require that sellers verify the buyer’s age using government-issued photo identification. 

“Colorado has suffered a disproportionate number of tragic shootings and we must do whatever we can to prevent future acts of senseless violence,” said Kipp, sponsor of both bills. “Both of these bills are commonsense measures to help ensure dangerous firearms don’t get into the wrong hands and that Colorado state law is being followed wherever firearms are sold.”

“Differing requirements for purchasing firearms and ammunition create dangerously lax conditions for at-risk youth,” Amabile said. “This bill would increase the age to purchase ammunition and strengthen display and delivery requirements to prevent theft and keep ammunition out of the hands of those intent on doing harm to themselves or others.”

Additionally, HB25-1133 would require sellers to take basic safety measures to prevent theft of ammunition in stores by requiring ammunition be stored in locked cases or behind a counter so that it cannot be accessed without a store associate. Delivery providers must also verify the person receiving the package is 21 or older.

HB25-1238, sponsored by Kipp and Senator Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, would strengthen security and safety measures at gun shows. It would require that gun show promoters maintain liability insurance and submit detailed security plans, including information about vendors, an estimated number of attendees, the number of security personnel secured for the show, and a layout of the event that includes entrances and exits and locations of video camera security to local law enforcement before an event. 

“This bill is another in a long line of measures I’ve supported during my time in the Colorado legislature to prevent gun violence,” Danielson said. “House Bill 1238 will increase safety in our communities by ensuring gun laws are followed at gun shows, where thousands of firearms and rounds of ammunition are on display and available to the public.”

Additionally, the bill would strengthen implementation of other gun violence prevention laws, like age requirements and the three-day waiting period, as well as requiring that firearms and ammunition are appropriately tagged, stored, and displayed at gun shows to prevent theft. 

HB25-1133 and HB25-1238 now head to the Senate floor for further consideration.