Nick Coltrain’s reporting in The Denver Post lays out in vivid detail how Colorado’s gun laws have gone from “tight” to “tourniquet.” Under Governor Jared Polis and the Democrat-controlled legislature, the state has gone full steam ahead on gun regulation – expanding red-flag laws, mandating gun training, instituting waiting periods, and pushing (but, thankfully, failing) to ban semi-automatic rifles. Proponents call it “responsible policy.” Detractors, and anyone who’s read the Bill of Rights, call it an orchestrated attack on the Second Amendment.
Coltrain chronicles the slow, steady squeeze on lawful gun ownership in Colorado, all under the glossy branding of safety. But for rural residents and responsible gun owners, these policies feel like a slap in the face and a stomp on their rights.
The Bullet Point Brief
- Red-Flag Law Expansion: Colorado’s red-flag law now lets more people, including medical professionals, flag you as a threat and strip your rights before you’re even charged. So much for due process.
- Mandatory Firearm Training: Gun buyers must now complete training courses that conveniently funnel them into state-approved programs. Because reading the Constitution isn’t considered enough education.
- Three-Day Waiting Period: A mandatory waiting period for all firearm purchases is in place. This doesn’t affect criminals one bit, but it sure makes life harder for law-abiding Coloradans.
- Failed Semi-Auto Ban: A proposed ban on semi-automatic rifles flopped under public and political pressure. Polis didn’t get his prize, but don’t expect him to quit. He’s just reloading.
- Gaslighting Galore: Polis claims these laws “respect Second Amendment rights” while gutting them in broad daylight. That’s not nuance, that’s nonsense.
My Bottom Line
“Shall not be infringed” isn’t some decorative slogan you needlepoint onto pillows. It’s a constitutional command. But Governor Polis treats it like a suggestion; one he’s more than happy to ignore while smiling for the cameras and mumbling something about “responsible ownership.” The fact is, every new restriction does squat to stop actual criminals and everything to hassle the people who follow the law. You know, those of us out in Weld County who still believe in self-reliance, personal responsibility, and constitutional rights. We don’t need a nanny state holding our hands. We need our rights back.
