Earlier this week, the Colorado 2023 legislative session adjourned sine die. This means the regular legislative session is completed for the year. It was a tough year for sportsmen in the Centennial State.
As we previously reported, the Democratic majority already passed and sent three bills that have serious effects on sportsmen and gun owners to Gov. Jared Polis, who did not waste time signing them into law. Lawsuits on similar legislation have been filed in other states, but the Democratic Party and the governor are not concerned with spending tax-payer money to pay for the fight to restrict firearms from their law-abiding constituents.
Additional bills waiting for Gov. Polis’ consideration:
HB23-1036 is now a pilot program to educate sportsmen on non-toxic ammunition. It also gives the Division of Parks and Wildlife (division) the authority to work with one or more willing nongovernmental entities to determine the scope and collect the results of the pilot program and to develop educational programs and range demonstrations relating to the pilot program. Sportsmen must keep a close eye on this new pilot program as this bill may be a tactic of animal and environmental extremists to get something on the books and then come back to expand it in future years.
SB23-256 is a pro-sportsmen bill waiting for the governor’s consideration. As we also previously reported, SB23-256 allows the state greater management flexibility of the wolf population, which will be extremely important as newly established wolf packs interact with the landscape.
Even though the 2023 legislative session is over, the Sportsmen’s Alliance will continue to monitor activities in Colorado as you never know when issues that sportsmen need to be aware of may arise.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
