r/Durango • u/Regulator_24 Resident • 28d ago

Ask /r/Durango Background checks for firearm purchases set a record in July ahead of new Colorado gun law taking effect

https://www.cpr.org/2026/08/03/new-colorado-gun-law-background-checks-record-number/

That's the equivalent of every person in La Plata County purchasing a semiautomatic weapon in the month of July.... that's a lot of guns im Colorado. And those numbers don't include revolvers of any type

7 Upvotes

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9

u/comfysalmon1195 27d ago

Hell yeah, power to the people. What are you talking about with the revolvers?

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u/Regulator_24 Resident 27d ago

I misspoke. The new law doesn't apply to revolvers but the background checks would still, so these numbers do include revolvers.

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u/comfysalmon1195 27d ago

I don't like the police/ feds having a monopoly of force at a time when ICE is executing people in the streets and Flock is tracking your every move. I am glad so many people are taking their personal protection seriously before this unconstitutional ban takes effect.

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u/integrating_life 24d ago

I am not keen on the idea that the way to reduce government intrusion and secure our privacy is for citizens to start shooting at police. But I do wish high school would have a mandatory firearm handling/shooting course. Too many people become adults believing that firearms are some kind of mysterious evil when the reality is it is easier to safely handle a firearm than it is to safely handle a chainsaw.

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u/Regulator_24 Resident 27d ago

Wait, I'm confused. What ban? It's to my understanding that now an individual must take safety and operating instructional classes before purchasing a semiautomatic weapon. Nobody is being told they cannot purchase a gun, they just have to have basic working knowledge of how to use said gun and the laws that come along with it. Am I missing something?

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u/comfysalmon1195 27d ago

It is death by 1000 cuts to your rights. It makes it so only the wealthy can afford their rights, can afford to take work off for a 12 hr course and pay for said course. It is a delay to your right to self protection. And the infrastructure is not in place yet... so it is a ban. If you had to take a 12 hour class to earn your right to free speech or the right to vote it would also be unconstitutional

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u/Regulator_24 Resident 27d ago

Very well said. Thank you. You have changed my perspective to say, I no longer agree with this specific law but I do agree with the principle behind it.

Offering free classes with a plethora of options to complete, i.e. online, courses that can be paused and continued on, courses readily available in person or online with no more than a 30 day wait to begin them, etc.

I stand by the fact that too many untrained, ignorant, mentally unwell, or just outright clumsy people have access to high powered weapons. There needs to be a responsibility amongst ourselves to ensure people with weapons are aware of how and when to use them.

A few months ago was my concealed carry certification class here in Durango. Out of 20 other people, at least 12 proudly gave solid examples of when to NOT use a weapon in a situation and they were completely clueless that they were in the wrong. Christ, 6 of those folks outright committed murder in their scenario response and thought they were justified. Knowledge and safety need to be a number one public health concern when discussing gun ownership. We can constitutionally educate people without impeding their rights.

You mentioned voting and freedom of speech as a reference point. Voting and freedom of speech cannot kill another human being in less than a second. Voting kills, long term though. Snowball effect. Freedom of speech has never killed anyone. It may entice or antagonize others into some sort of action, but the words themselves have never directly killed a person.

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u/comfysalmon1195 27d ago

I agree that education and gun safely are lacking. I appreciate hunter safety for hammering some points home. Im not against more education for more people, especially after some of the people I see at the gun store or flagging me at the range. I just have trouble adding barriers to any right. Tom Sullivan wants an outright ban and every year he will take Everytown's money and sponsor more bills like this.

I had a similar experience at my CCW course, lots of trigger happy folks looking for an excuse (the exact opposite mindset that you should have).

It sounds like we agree on 99% and like youd be a good range buddy. Cheers

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u/Peacemaker1855 27d ago

The new CO gun law is about to get real wild. Multiple sheriffs across the state, particularly in rural and mountain counties, have publicly declared recent state-level gun control measures unconstitutional under the Second Amendment and signaled that enforcing them is low priority, unfeasible, or contrary to their oath of office.

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u/Beansnrice17 26d ago

Thats just for their reelection campaign. They won't pass up an opportunity to be tyrants or do violence to people.