Colorado firearm permit system faces legal injunction attempt

A legal challenge has been filed against Colorado’s new permit-to-purchase system for semi-automatic firearms. The Colorado State Shooting Association, supported by the National Rifle Association and the Mountain States Legal Foundation, is seeking a preliminary injunction to block the implementation of the law.

Signed by Governor Jared Polis, the legislation requires individuals wishing to purchase certain modern semi-automatic firearms, such as the AR-15, to obtain a firearms safety course eligibility card and complete a safety course within five years.

Plaintiffs argue the requirements are unconstitutionally onerous, noting that the written exam is stricter than those required for police officers and that many counties lack available in-person trainers. The filing also claims that the administrative hurdles have led many customers to decline firearm purchases since the scheme's implementation.