Colorado SB25-003: Leadership by Fear and Constitutional Violation

Sharon Craig sent the following to us this AM, written by Katie Pierce. It is a very good synopsis concerning why the latest law being promoted in our State Legislature is ill-conceived and unconstitutional. I want you all to see this, as hearings on the legislation begin on Tuesday, and some of you may want to testify. The text of the referenced bill may be found at: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-003.

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Just wanted to share as people get ready to testify next week:

Colorado SB25-003: Leadership by Fear and Constitutional Violation
By Katie Pierce

Both the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article II, Section 13 of the Colorado Constitution provide unambiguous protections for the right of the people to keep and bear arms. Any legislation that infringes on this right undermines the principles of freedom and individual sovereignty that are foundational to our country and state. Laws like SB25-003, which aim to restrict ownership of specific firearms or accessories, are not only based on leadership by fear but also stand in direct violation of these constitutional guarantees.

1. The Second Amendment: “Shall not be infringed”

This language is clear. The right of the people to keep and bear arms is not conditional—it is fundamental. The phrase “shall not be infringed” serves as a prohibition against any governmental attempt to limit this right. Laws that restrict ownership of certain types of firearms or accessories, as proposed in SB25-003, directly conflict with this unambiguous mandate.

Legislation like this assumes that restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens will lead to safety, but this approach relies on fear, not facts. It ignores the fundamental truth that criminals, by definition, do not obey laws. Instead, such laws disarm responsible citizens, leaving them more vulnerable to threats while doing nothing to deter those who seek to cause harm.

2. Article II, Section 13 of the Colorado Constitution: “Shall not be called in question”

Section 13 explicitly safeguards the right to keep and bear arms for personal defense, property protection, and public service. The phrase “shall not be called in question” leaves no room for debate—this is a protected right that the government has no authority to undermine. SB25-003, however, seeks to “call into question” which firearms Coloradans can own, violating the plain language of our state’s constitution.

This bill implies that the government, rather than the people, knows best how to ensure individual safety. Such an approach is rooted in fear: fear of lawful gun owners, fear of tools rather than behavior, and fear of constitutional rights that empower individuals.

3. Leadership by Fear vs. Constitutional Leadership

Legislation like SB25-003 represents leadership driven by fear rather than reason. It assumes that banning certain firearms will prevent violence, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Rifles, including those categorized as “assault weapons,” account for only a small fraction of gun-related crimes, according to FBI data. Fear-driven policies disproportionately target law-abiding citizens, many of whom rely on firearms for self-defense, hunting, and recreational activities.

Constitutional leadership, by contrast, trusts citizens with their rights and addresses the root causes of violence—mental health, illegal firearms trafficking, and lack of enforcement of existing laws. Instead of infringing on the rights of responsible Coloradans, our leaders should focus on solutions that respect the Constitution and empower communities to reduce crime.

4. Uphold the Constitution, Reject Fear-Driven Legislation

Both the U.S. Constitution and the Colorado Constitution provide unequivocal protections for the right to keep and bear arms. Legislation like SB25-003 undermines these protections and is rooted in leadership by fear, not fact. It criminalizes law-abiding citizens, violates constitutional principles, and ignores proven solutions to address violence.

Leadership means respecting the Constitution and empowering citizens—not infringing on their freedoms. Let us lead with courage, not fear, and honor the fundamental rights guaranteed to every American and Coloradan.

Thanks, Sharon Craig

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Second Amendment oriented groups that are mounting challenges to this and other such bills include:
Colorado State Shooting Association (https://mailchi.mp/cssa/semi-auto-ban-scheduled-tuesday)
Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (https://rmgo.org/billwatch/)

Dave Cuyler, Vice Chair
Archuleta County Republican Central Committee