While Democrats called it common sense legislation to get gun owners better educated, Republicans argued last week that the proposed changes to Colorado’s concealed carry permitting process infringes on Second Amendment rights.

House Bill 1174 mandates that all concealed carry permit training classes be conducted in person, with a curriculum to cover firearm safety, storage, state and federal gun laws, and self-defense and de-escalation tactics. Applicants must pass a written exam and live-fire exercise, and renewals require a refresher course.

In a vote along party lines, lawmakers advanced the bill to its third reading in the House.

If passed, it would restrict permits for people convicted of certain misdemeanors in the previous five years and assign local sheriffs the responsibility of verifying course instructors.

Rep. Scott Bottoms, R-Colorado Springs, argued that the state should pay for people to obtain this specialized training.

“Why are we making it difficult or impossible for people to exercise their Second Amendment rights?” he asked. “This is wholly against the Constitution, unless you say, ‘We’ll pay for it’.”

The bill’s sponsors, Majority Leader Rep. Monica Duran, D- Wheat Ridge, and Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Colorado Springs, contended that the legislation provides a way to ensure that all concealed carry permit holders are well-educated on the responsibilities that come with owning a firearm.

“I think with this passage of this bill, people that get a concealed carry permit will have the training that they need so everybody knows that this person has gone through this training, they know what they’re doing, and they know how to deescalate and how to reduce any kind of conflict they might have in a law enforcement situation,” Snyder said.

Rep. Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud, argued that the legislature is focusing on the wrong group of people in its attempt to reduce gun-related crimes, referencing the House Judiciary Committee’s rejection of a bill he co-sponsored with Snyder that would have increased penalties for firearms theft.

“This is an overregulation for our law-abiding citizens that are trying to acquire their concealed carry permit,” he said. “While we’re shutting down penalty for theft of firearms, we’re pushing for things that are claiming to appear as a best practice, but it’s coming after the people that are law-abiding and are going through the due diligence to get their concealed carry permits.” 

Douglas County Rep. Brandi Bradley echoed Armagost’s concerns that the state is focusing on creating more mandates for law-abiding citizens, while ignoring criminals.

“How is this bill going to get rid of criminals or criminal behavior?” she asked. “Because I have yet to see that the people who have concealed carries are the ones creating problems in our communities. I find it unreasonable that we continue to mandate Second Amendment rights with regulations and things that go against my ability to protect myself as a responsible gun owner.”