Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office

Steven D. Nowlin – Sheriff

730 East Driscoll Street
Cortez, Colorado 81321

Telephone: 970-565-8452
Fax: 970-565-3731

www.montezumasheriff.org

PUBLIC INFORMATION

Colorado Senate Bill 25-003

C.R.S. 18-12-116

THE MANUFACTURE FOR, TRANSFER OR SALE OF A SPECIFIED SEMIAUTOMATIC FIREARM TO, OR RECEIPT OR PURCHASE OF A SPECIFIED SEMIAUTOMATIC FIREARM

Effective 08-01-26

The Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office will not be participating in the management and issuance of the training certificate required through the mandated Colorado Parks and Wildlife program for any person to purchase or transfer a specified restrictive semiautomatic rifle, shotgun or handgun identified by the Colorado Department of Revenue as provided by Senate Bill 25-003 effective August 1, 2026.

The reasons for this decision are as follows:

1. Funding and Staffing

   This new law does not provide funding to the County or the Sheriff that would require an increase in current staff duties to manage and facilitate the procedures outlined in this law. Cuts in funding and personnel to the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office prohibit a full or part-time staff position that would be required, in addition to the amount of time, cost and work required we already handle in the processing and issuance of concealed handgun permits.

2. Hunter Education Requirements

   Successful completion of a Colorado Hunter Education class is required for anyone born on or after January 1, 1949, to hunt or trap in Colorado, and has never been a requirement by federal or state laws to purchase a firearm or obtain a concealed handgun permit.

   This new law does not have anything to do with hunting or trapping; only Colorado Department of Revenue identified restricted firearms purchases or transfers.

   Colorado residents who were born before January 1, 1949 are not required to have Hunter Education, but now will be required to attend and successfully complete a 12-hour safety class to purchase or obtain by transfer any of the many specified semiautomatic firearms restricted in Senate Bill 25-003.

3. Specified Firearms List

   A copy of the list identifying the hundreds of semiautomatic rifles, shotguns with detachable magazines, and semiautomatic handguns that are gas operated and have detachable magazines as determined by the Colorado Department of Revenue Firearms Dealer Division they have identified and subject to the requirements in Colorado Revised Statutes 18-12-116, can be obtained by contacting:

   [email protected]

   Request the SB25-003 Specified Semiautomatic Firearms Guidance publication.

   This list of specified firearms is subject to change and may include additional firearms annually.

4. Training Program Questions

   For questions regarding the firearms safety program and the required safety courses, contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife through the Specified Semiautomatic Firearms web pages, or call (303) 291-7143 regarding the firearms safety course eligibility cards process, participating Colorado Sheriff’s Offices, and a list of instructors in the state.

5. Sheriff’s Statement

   As a Colorado Sheriff, and every member of the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office, each of us have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Colorado, and perform the duties of the Office of Sheriff in Colorado by protecting those rights for all citizens in Montezuma County

Colorado Senate Bill 25-003