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Colorado gun owners will soon be required to keep their firearms locked up when they’re being stored in vehicles, or else risk the possibility of a $500 fine under a bill signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday.
Thenewlaw,whichtakeseffectonJanuary1st,2025,mandatesthatanyfirearmleftinavehiclemustbekeptinalockedcontainer;acenterconsole,glovebox,orin-carsafe.Longgunscanbekeptinasoft-sidedcase,butitstillmustbelockedandsecuredinordertocomplywiththelaw.
Whilethemeasureimposesacivilfineupto$500forviolations,itdoesn’tcontainanyincreasedpenaltiesforactuallystealing agun.Republicansofferedabillearlierthissessionthatwould havemadeitaseriouscrimetostealagun,butDemocratshavebeenreluctanttoimposenewpunishmentsthatinvolveprisontime,andtheydefeatedthatbillincommittee.ADemocratattemptedtoamendthegunstoragebillwithaprovisionthatmadeguntheftahigh-levelmisdemeanor,butittoowaskilledoffinaconferencecommitteeearlierthismonth.
DuringtheSenate’ssecondreadingofthebill,Sen.DylanRoberts,D-Frisco,pushedanamend
