Bill to Identify and Prevent the Sale of Stolen Firearms Passes House

DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Cecelia Espenoza and William Lindstedt. SB25-205, which passed by a vote of 36-27, would help identify individuals who are trying to sell a firearm that has been reported lost or stolen or involved in a criminal investigation.

“This bill allows federally licensed firearm dealers to request verification that they are not buying lost or stolen weapons,” said Rep. Cecelia Espenoza, D-Denver. “We’re establishing a procedure and expediting serial number checks so firearm dealers who want to help keep our communities safe can help identify guns that have been stolen or involved in an unsolved crime.”

“We’re passing this bill for the firearm dealers throughout Colorado who want to do their part to keep illegal guns off our streets,” said Rep. William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield. “Running serial numbers checks alerts firearm dealers when they come across lost, stolen or crime-involved firearms that they wouldn’t be able to sell anyway. This bill would allow firearm dealers to protect themselves from bad purchases while making their communities safer from gun crimes.”

SB25-205 would establish a procedure to allow a federal firearms licensee to request a firearm serial number check before purchasing a firearm from an individual. Under the bill, local county sheriff’s offices would have to complete the serial number check within three business days of the request. 

If a licensee has a reason to believe that a person sold or attempted to sell a firearm that is stolen, lost, or involved in an open criminal investigation, they would be required to report the information to law enforcement within 48 hours.Colorado Democrats have passed numerous laws to keep firearms out of the wrong hands, including laws to require gun owners to report when their firearm has been lost or stolen and properly store their firearms when not in use, including in their vehicles. The legislature also cracked down on “ghost guns” to keep unregulated, untraceable firearms out of our communities.