Multiple gun laws making their way through legislation

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — Over the weekend, state representatives debated three bills on the House floor. Rep. Matt Soper for the 54th Congressional District explained the bills that are currently on the table.

The first bill requires gun owners to have liability insurance. Anyone who owns a firearm must add it to their homeowner insurance and carry that insurance on them at all times. Some homeowner’s insurance policies already cover firearms, but with 50% of homeowners dropping their insurance during the pandemic, gun owners may have to get a separate insurance policy.

The second bill that representatives saw over the weekend will be placed on the ballot in November. It will ask Coloradans if there should be an extra 10% excise tax placed on the purchase of ammunition and firearms. When combined with local and state taxes (calculating around 10%) and the Pittman Robertson tax (adding 11%), this additional tax will bring the total gun sale taxes to around 30%. All revenue gained from the extra tax will go towards supporting victims of violence.

The third measure debated on the House floor concerns adding or creating a state version of the federal firearms license (FFL). Even private gun collectors with an FFL will have to meet state standards. This law will affect business owners and gun collectors alike.

Soper says other big bills like the assault weapon ban and the bill to create more gun-free zones will also be on the House floor here in the near future.

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