Dedicated to running interference in certain proposed bills in the Colorado General Assembly, Teller County commissioners have started the year by testifying against many of them.

Their latest target is SB25-003 that, if passed, would ban specified semiautomatic firearms with detachable magazines.

“This bill would ban the sale and transfer of 95% of semiautomatic firearms which are some of the most popular firearms in the nation and in Colorado,” said Commissioner Erik Stone, speaking at the meeting Feb. 6.

Stone is not alone in his opposition to the bill.

“There were more than 600 people signed up to testify against that bill, in person, with 400 online,” Stone said.

In the meantime, the vote on SB25-003 has been delayed, due to concerns expressed by Gov. Jared Polis who has stated that the bill should target guns used in crimes.

“There is another bill that treads upon Second Amendment rights,” said Stone, referring to HB25-1193.

The bill requires that ammunition sold at retail store must be accessible to a purchaser or transferee only with the assistance of the vendor. The bill, if passed, prohibits the retail sale of ammunition to a person who is younger than 21 years of age.

“Colorado is a hunting state, always has been a hunting state,” Stone said. “At age 18 you can join the military; you should be able to buy ammunition at 18.”

On another issue about guns, Commissioner Dan Williams said that the U.S. Forest Service is not closing Pike National Forest to target shooting.

At issue is a plan by the forest service to construct five shooting ranges and expand a sixth.

“They’re not closing anything in Pike until such time as these ranges are constructed. I can’t promise which ranges will be prioritized,” Williams said.

The Forest Service recently released a management plan for target shooting ranges in Teller, El Paso, Douglas and Park counties.

“I’m obviously pushing for Turkey Tracks because it’s the closest one,” Williams said. “But it depends on where the funding streams are.”

On other funding issues, Williams emphasized that Teller County is a beneficiary of federal money. Soon after being inaugurated, President Donald Trump froze federal funding to multiple agencies and nonprofits. He later rescinded the order.

“We did get a brief from the governor’s office about the potential impacts of the loss of (federal) grants,” Williams said. “As you know, Teller County residents don’t like a lot of government but you would be shocked, like we were, when you realize just how much state funding comes from the federal government and how much that we rely on it.”

For instance, Teller County’s public health and Department of Human Services receive federal money which would, if lost, affect Teller County residents.

“We’re talking Maslow’s needs; we’re talking WIC (Women Infants Children) and programs for our elderly’s needs,” Williams said.

In retrospect, Williams said there was nothing good about the freeze/rescinding but it was a good exercise in light of future uncertainties.

“We have connections now should that happen again, with DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) and different things,” he said. “I’m not making a political statement but if the funding freeze happens again, we’ll be better prepared to look for it in some of those questions.”

The freeze would have affected the nonprofit organization, CASA, of which Williams is a board member.

“CASA is doing very well; we did stand to lose a significant amount of money had we not changed the DEI policy,” Williams said. “As you know, a lot of us are going through that.”

Williams hinted at the struggle of CASA director Angela Rose.

“I have a lot of respect for the executive director who handled the issue with dignity and grace,” Williams said. “We just have to change some words on the policy because we need that money.”

CASA, which has an office in Woodland Park, served 572 children in Teller and El Paso counties who had been abused and neglected in 2024.

“The need is really 800 to 1,000, Williams said. “We’re looking for volunteers who could help these kids.”

After the change, Rose released a newsletter to CASA donors.

“With the announcement to pause federal grants across the nation, a new wave of uncertainty is a reality for all nonprofits, including CASA of the Pikes Peak Region,” Rose writes. “Even though the order has been rescinded, the future of grants and funding is very unclear and uncertain.”