Senate panel advances bill requiring promoters, vendors to strengthen gun‑show security and vendor verification

HB 25‑12‑38, a bill to require gun‑show promoters and vendors to implement security measures and vendor verification, moved out of the Colorado Senate State Affairs Committee after a 3‑2 committee vote to advance the measure to the next stage.

Supporters told the committee they have observed widespread noncompliance at gun shows and said the bill merely enforces existing law. "This bill will require gun show promoters to have $1,000,000 in liability insurance, implement specific security measures at the gun show, such as video recordings, monitoring entrances and exits, tagging guns brought in by customers, and posting specific notices," a sponsor explained during the hearing.

The bill's sponsors said HB 25‑12‑38 would also require vendors to display federal firearms licenses and Colorado dealer permits, retain vendor compliance certificates and video records for six months, conduct required background checks and waiting‑period verifications, secure displayed firearms unloaded and fixed to counters or walls, and restrict anyone under 18 from attending unaccompanied. Supporters described additional penalties for repeat violations, including five‑year bans on promoters who fail to follow the law and escalating misdemeanors for vendors.

Proponents who testified included Colorado Ceasefire and faith and public‑health advocates who cited observations of high‑capacity magazines, unserialized receivers and alleged sales of silencers and other prohibited items at some shows. Eileen McCarron of Colorado Ceasefire said the bill "is designed to ensure that gun show promoters ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws, both by themselves and their vendors." Mark Harris, who said his organization conducted inspections at shows on the Front Range, told the committee he saw prohibited large‑capacity magazines and unserialized parts and urged passage.

Opponents — including multiple gun‑show vendors, Libertarian Party representatives and an association of Rocky Mountain gun owners — argued the bill duplicates existing enforcement tools, imposes heavy costs on small vendors and would drive legitimate vendors out of business. Jacob Luria, vice chair of the Libertarian Party of Colorado, said the bill "imposes excessive regulations on guns" and "strangles legitimate gun shows and promoters." Several opponents also disputed evidence tying gun‑show sales to trafficking or mass shootings, citing ATF and DOJ statistics.

Committee members questioned witnesses about enforcement and how the bill interacts with federal law; committee staff and sponsors noted a House amendment exempting curios and relics. The sponsors said they plan a technical fix at second reading for a cross‑reference error.

Votes at the committee: Senators Ball (Aye), Sullivan (Yes), Mr. Chair (Yes) voted to advance; Senators Pelton B and Pelton R voted No. The committee recorded the outcome as 3 to 2; HB 25‑12‑38 progresses to the Committee of the Whole.

Supporters and opponents asked the committee to consider practical issues such as signage, sheriff review of security plans and whether small vendors could meet storage or monitoring requirements. The sponsors said many compliance options are inexpensive (for example, secured display cases or simple locked enclosures) and emphasized the bill is intended to bring gun shows into consistent compliance with existing firearms statutes.

The committee accepted no substantive amendments during the hearing and closed the record after the roll call.

A number of witnesses spoke during the hearing on both sides, including people who identified themselves as gun‑violence survivors, gun‑show vendors, representatives of advocacy groups and hobbyists. The record includes repeated requests from both proponents and opponents for close attention to how the bill will be implemented by small, rural businesses.

The committee action does not change law; it advances the bill for additional consideration where sponsors may offer technical fixes and where final votes will determine whether the changes become law.