Today, El Paso County Sheriff Joe Roybal testified during the House Judiciary Committee in opposition to Senate Bill 25-003, Semiautomatic Firearms & Rapid-Fire Devices.
Read Sheriff Roybal’s remarks as written below:
“Good morning.
My name is Joe Roybal, and I testify today as the Sheriff of El Paso County in strong opposition to Senate Bill 25-003.
Contrary to the bill sponsors’ claim, SB 25-003 will not make Coloradans safer.
By banning the purchasing, selling, and manufacturing of semi-automatic firearms used by thousands of law-abiding citizens for home and personal safety, this legislation not only jeopardizes the fundamental right to self-defense but also infringes on inherent constitutional rights, setting a dangerous legal precedent for the future of the 2nd Amendment in Colorado.
Proponents of the bill claim it will help curb gun violence; however, SB 25-003 will have the opposite effect.
This bill effectively targets law-abiding gun owners rather than criminals, who, by definition, do not follow the law and will obtain a firearm through illegal channels.
We have seen the public safety consequences in cities and states that have introduced restrictive firearms measures. Chicago, Illinois*, is a prime example- shooting deaths have risen 19% in the past decade- despite increased anti-2nd amendment legislative efforts such as today’s bill.
This legislation also creates an additional background screening process, which is already required when purchasing a firearm.
Of even more significant concern, this legislation calls for the building and maintaining of a state-required registry for Colorado gun owners (which violates Colorado statute).
The only logical reason I can think of for a state-sanctioned gun registry is to have the ability to confiscate firearms in the future.
This will be challenged in court as it is highly unconstitutional. A ruling has already been made in Illinois: State of Illinois v. Vivian Claudine Brown.
Lastly, undoubtably, Senate Bill 25-003 will tie up courts for years in litigation and cost Colorado taxpayers hundreds of thousands in unnecessary legal fees.
As Sheriff, public safety is the primary focus of every decision I make.
Senate Bill 25-003 is unconstitutional and will not increase public safety and will only erode the rights of law-abiding Coloradans.
I urge members of this committee to oppose Senate Bill 003 in the interest of public safety and the preservation of our Constitution.”
*According to the National Criminal Justice Association
Testimony is expected to be heard into the evening hours of March 11th. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office will update this release upon the committee’s final vote.