Colorado Gun Sales Surge Ahead of New Permit‑to‑Purchase Law

Modern semiautomatic firearms are rapidly selling out in Colorado as the state prepares to enforce a new "permit to purchase" scheme. Governor Jared Polis signed the legislation in April 2025, which requires prospective buyers to obtain a firearms‑safety‑course eligibility card and complete a 12‑hour safety course within five years, plus a three‑day waiting period. Dealers such as SDS Guns in Colorado Springs reported multiple restocks, and the Pikes Peak Courier noted the shop was "jam‑packed" with customers. More than 6,500 background‑check requests were pending with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, making July 28 the deadline for buying a semiautomatic rifle before the law takes effect. The required training could cost up to $500.

Colorado previously banned high‑capacity magazines after the 2012 Aurora theater shooting and has received high marks from gun‑control groups. The new law arrives as the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear cases on similar firearm bans in Illinois and Connecticut, and the Third Circuit recently struck down New Jersey's ban.