House raises penalty for theft of firearms to felony level
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Summary
House Bill 10‑62, making theft of a firearm a class 6 felony regardless of value (with some language discussed to set class 5 in certain contexts), passed the House; sponsors said the measure targets the criminal market for stolen guns and aims to improve public safety.
The Colorado House on Monday approved House Bill 10‑62, which changes the criminal penalty for theft of a firearm so that thefts involving firearms are treated more seriously than ordinary property theft tied to monetary value.
Representatives sponsoring the bill argued that the inherent danger of firearms and the risk that stolen guns enter illegal markets or be used by prohibited persons justifies elevating the theft of firearms to a felony classification. Representative Armagas told members a stolen firearm can cause harm “far more dangerous consequences for the communities than the stolen television,” and urged a yes vote.
Floor discussion included committee reports from Judiciary and Appropriations; the Judiciary Committee reported that it ran an amendment removing a class‑5 felony classification so that “any theft of a firearm is a class 6 felony.” The House adopted the committee reports and later the bill; the presiding officer announced the bill was adopted on the floor.
Supporters said the change would provide sentencing consistency, help prosecutors, and potentially reduce circulation of stolen weapons. Opponents were not prominent in floor debate as recorded in the transcript, and the committee reports were adopted before final passage.
