Colorado lawmakers vote soon on three bills that will hold the gun industry accountable to victims when their misconduct causes harm, raise the age to purchase a firearm to 21, and expand our extreme risk law to include groups who are likely to recognize warning signs before an act of gun violence is committed.
We need to let our lawmakers know that inaction on gun safety is not an option. Send a message telling your representative to pass these three bills >>
Dear Representative,
As your constituent, I'm asking you to vote YES on SB 23-168, SB 23-169, and SB 23-170.
SB 23-168 would empower victims who seek to hold bad actors in the gun industry accountable in court when their misconduct causes death, violence, and other harm to Coloradans. This will help disincentivize the most egregiously irresponsible gun industry business practices and encourage the gun industry to seek proactive solutions that promote human life and public safety in Colorado.
Colorado's extreme risk law can be more broadly utilized to save lives by empowering educators, healthcare professionals, and additional law enforcement officials to act before warning signs escalate into tragedies. By expanding opportunities for those closest to people in crisis to directly petition the court for these life-saving orders, SB 23-170 would enhance access to our state's extreme risk law and enable more individuals who are likely to recognize dangerous warning signs to intervene quickly and prevent gun violence tragedies.
Colorado can further strengthen its laws by requiring that all gun purchasers be at least 21 years old. Under federal law, a person must be 21 to buy a handgun from a federally licensed gun dealer, but only 18 to buy a rifle or shotgun, including high-powered semi-automatic rifles that are common in mass shootings. Firearms are the leading cause of death for young people ages 18 to 20, and the firearm suicide rate among this group has increased 41% in the last decade. Eighteen to 20-year-olds commit gun homicides at triple the rate of adults 21 years and older.
Please support these three bills to save lives in our state. Thank you.