In a bipartisan approach to enhance public safety, Colorado Governor Jared Polis has just endorsed legislation imposing stricter penalties for all types of firearm theft. The bill, signed into law yesterday, establishes uniform consequences for the crime, regardless of the stolen gun's value.
According to Colorado Senate Democrats, the newly enacted HB25-1062 aims to amend the present discrepancy where penalties for gun theft could vary from a minor offense to a class 2 felony, depending on the firearm's worth. This legislation seeks to straightforwardly make any firearm theft a class 6 felony, thus eliminating what has been described as a "loophole." Majority Leader Monica Duran stated, "Colorado Democrats have passed numerous bills to prevent firearms from getting into the wrong hands, but firearm theft acts as a loophole to these gun violence prevention measures and threatens the safety of our communities," as per Colorado Senate Democrats.
The move, lauded by stakeholders across the political divide, saw input from both Democratic and Republican legislators. Representative Ryan Armagost, a Republican, alongside Senator Byron Pelton, also backed the bill. This collaborative effort was highlighted as a dedication to ensuring that Coloradans can "live in a safe and thriving community," as put forward by Senator Nick Hinrichsen, as obtained by Colorado Senate Democrats.
Colorado has seen over 3,500 firearms stolen between the years of 2019 and 2023, with a 70 percent recovery rate, as reported. The issue of gun theft is linked closely to the surge of violent crimes, hence, legislators have chosen to firmly crack down on this problem. Referring to the significance of the bill, Duran added, the penalty for firearm theft should be the same across the board, a sentiment echoed by proponents of the law who believe that its implementation will help drive down both gun violence and firearm theft.
The state's Democrats have actively sought to enact laws aiming to curb gun violence through various means. These efforts include mandating firearm owners to report lost or stolen weapons and necessitating proper storage of their firearms when not in use. Additionally, Colorado has taken steps against "ghost guns," aiming to eradicate unregulated and untraceable firearms from local communities. Recent legislation has also been designed to assist firearm dealers in identifying stolen firearms or those involved in criminal activities.
